Topic: Reading for Pleasure

Marge and the Secret Tunnel

Chapter book

Here at BooksForTopics HQ we are huge fans of Isla Fisher’s Marge in Charge books and we have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the newest one, Marge and the Secret Tunnel. Charming, witty and full of laugh-out-loud moments, we were happy to find that the latest instalment was well worth the wait.

Jemima and her little brother Jakey always look forward to their unconventional babysitter Marge coming round to look after them. Marge has rainbow hair and doesn’t seem like other grown-ups at all, and despite Mum’s list of important rules pinned to the fridge Marge always seems to stumble into hilarious adventures.

In this collection of three Marge stories, Jemima discovers a deep hole in the garden and when Marge comes over to babysit it seems like the perfect time to explore what is inside. As usual, Marge takes on the challenge gleefully, leading the children underground and through the secret tunnel. In the later stories, the trio embark on an unusual shopping trip and an important quest to rescue the neighbour’s lost kitten.

Marge has a song for every occasion and plenty of room for imagination and creativity. These short stories are a real hoot and are just brilliant for reading aloud to children in KS1 or lower Ks2.

How To Bee

Bren MacDibble

Chapter book

How to Bee is a wonderfully gripping narrative set in a dystopian future where there are no bees and children work on farms to pollinate fruit trees by hand. Fruit has become a luxury afforded only by the rich people living in big houses in the city. Out on a rural farm, nine-year-old Peony lives in poverty but is incredibly well loved by her sister and grandfather. Peony dreams of becoming one of the farm’s best ‘bees’ and one day Peony’s world is turned upside down when her Ma turns up at the farm and demands that Peony come to the city to work with her.

It soon becomes clear that living in a wealthy house in the city is not as idyllic as some people might think. Peony is a steely and determined protagonist and she sets about on a mission to return home to her family as soon as possible.

This is a beautiful book that is intelligently written and incredibly moving. We highly recommend this story about the vital nature of bees, family bonds, the power of hope and the importance of not losing sight of things that matter.

Boy Underwater

Adam Baron

Chapter book

Boy Underwater is brilliantly funny, unexpected and deeply moving. The plot is likely to bring both tears of laughter and of sadness, and also had me gasping out loud in places too. The book has been awarded the sought-after title of Waterstone’s Children’s Book of the Month for June 2018 and I’m recommending it for Y6+.

Cymbeline and his classmates are ready for their turn to start swimming lessons and most of the pupils are really excited to dive in. But Cymbeline has never been swimming before and the more he thinks about it the more he realises that his mum has actively avoided going to the swimming pool or the seaside. Not wanting to lose face in front of his classmates, Cymbeline googles front crawl, borrows Dad’s old swimming shorts and has a practice in the bath. A sound plan, thinks Cymbeline, until he is unexpectedly pushed into the water at the pool and his whole world begins to unravel.

Little does Cymbeline expect that Mum’s reaction to what happens at the pool might lead to her being isolated in a special hospital, nor does he anticipate the family secrets that begin to rise to the surface. With the help of old and new friends, Cymbeline races against time to uncover the truth about his family and to get Mum back home.

Cymbeline’s narrative voice carries a mixture of cheeky humour, sincerity and a level of naivety that makes him hugely likeable and has the reader rooting for him from the start. Although Cymbeline is just nine, the book is most suitable for readers a few years older as it is tremendously sad in parts (as always I suggest reading it first to assess suitability based on your knowledge of the pupils in your classroom) and the narrative touches on some difficult topics including mental health, domestic abuse and family separations.

Adam Baron has masterfully created the perfect blend of humour and pathos, and (without wanting to give away any spoilers) the twists and turns in the plot are simply brilliant and I never predicted the ending. This is a stunning and entertaining narrative that leaves an impact long after you close its pages.

Across the Divide

Anne Booth

Chapter book

Across the Divide is a contemplative story about war and pacifism, about making a stand and about seeing different viewpoints. The story explores what happens when people with dissimilar experiences and viewpoints find a way to listen to each other’s voices and seeks ways to progress based on respectfully accepting difference and finding where commonality lies.

The main character, Olivia, finds herself in the centre of bitter arguments and feels caught between sides. Her mum is a peace activist and her grandfather is a vicar who used to serve in the army. When the opening of an army cadet unit is proposed at Olivia’s school, everyone seems to have strong opinions and tension quickly mounts. Olivia feels like she is able to see different sides of the argument and can sympathise with those making a stand for either cause. Before she knows it, things have spiralled out of control and Olivia’s Mum is arrested for leading a pacifist protest against the army base.

With her grandparents away on holiday and her mum in custody, Olivia has no choice but to go and stay with her estranged father on the island of Lindisfarne. There is an almost ethereal quality to the beautiful landscape on Lindisfarne and its timeless remoteness gives Olivia plenty of space to think about the different viewpoints dividing her community. Olivia meets William, an old-fashioned and mysterious-seeming boy who lives on the island. William can relate to the way Olivia is wrestling with different ideas about war and pacifism and in talking together the pair help each other to find their own voices and look for a way forward.

In Across the Divide Anne Booth has masterfully crafted a narrative that is deeply contemplative and one that allows different viewpoints to be heard without directing what the reader should conclude. Through Olivia’s story and her interactions with friends and family, the narrative gently depicts how young people can be powerful in their capabilities to stand up for their beliefs and to be instrumental in bringing about positive change in society.

The Girl Who Thought Her Mother Was a Mermaid

Tania Unsworth

Chapter book

Stella Martin can remember how happy everything seemed at home before her mother died but now she feels increasingly alone and isolated. When a new girl called Cam arrives, Stella is happy to enjoy a blossoming friendship.

Stella is pleased to have a friend to confide in as there is a lot on her mind, especially when she begins to suspect a highly unusual secret about her mother. Why is there such a strange family relationship with water? Are Grandma’s odd comments about mermaids just part of her dementia or is there more to them? What does the picture of a mermaid drawn by her mother mean and why had it been hidden away? Stella decides it is time to investigate her suspicions and she sets off on a mission to uncover the truth.

What follows is a thoroughly gripping adventure with dark twists and turns, fascinating characters and just the right amount of suspense to keep readers’ eyes glued to the pages until a resolution has been reached (I read this in one sitting). The difficult themes of bereavement, dementia and abusive relationships are handled with due sensitivity and there is nothing too frightening in this unusual story, with plenty to feel optimistic about at the end.

With a highly original concept, mesmerising storytelling and a beautifully portrayed exploration of character identity and relationships, I highly recommend this for Years 5-6.

Run Wild

Gill Lewis

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

This is a thought-provoking novel that explores the connection between children and the natural world, published in Barrington Stoke’s ‘super-readable’ and dyslexia-friendly style. The book is short and unintimidating and taps into important issues that interest and concern young readers, making it a suitable choice for children in the 7-9 age bracket and also for older, less confident readers.

Izzy and her friend Asha live in London and feel like there is no space to play. Looking for a new space to roam freely, the friends stumble across a derelict gasworks building and soon discover that among the rubble there is a growing miscellany of wildlife already finding shelter there, including a wolf. Unsure whether to approach the wolf, the children can see that the creature is suffering an injury and is in desperate need of help. The children need to tap into their connection with the wild as they attempt to save the wolf and speak up for creating a new nature reserve in the city.

The bond between children and nature is strikingly portrayed in the story and there is an encouragement too for young people to make heard their unique perspective when it comes to ‘rewilding’. Gill Lewis has created an important and moving story about how essential it is to retain dedicated outdoor spaces for people and wildlife to roam freely within the context of busy urban landscapes, because there is a little bit of wild inside us all that otherwise risks being lost in the crowdedness of modern life.

The Polka Dot Shop

Laurel Remington

Chapter book

The Polka Dot Shop was for me a very enjoyable read, exploring themes of friendship, family, mental health and valuing entrepreneurialism among young people.

13-year-old Andy is the only pupil in her school who is not keen on the new no-uniform policy. While her classmates talk endlessly about fashion and look forward to weekend shopping sprees, Andy has to wear pre-loved clothes that come from her mum’s run-down vintage boutique.

One day, Andy finds a bag of high-quality designer clothes at the back of the shop and suddenly she spots an appealing outfit and begins to see a renewed potential in the pre-used fashion business. But in order for her plans to come to fruition, Andy will need a little help from her friends, a dose of business acumen and huge amounts of determination to find a way to transform the boutique and keep everyone happy along the way. Andy and her mum also need to find a way to bridge their growing divide by beginning to see things from each other’s perspectives, which is not an easy journey for either of them.

I really enjoyed the way that young entrepreneurialism was presented so positively in this story. There is a lot of warmth in Laurel Remington’s writing and the characters are hugely relatable with realistic relationships portrayed, plus a hint of budding romance. This book is suitable for upper KS2+.

A Dangerous Game

Malorie Blackman & Mike Lowery

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Although Sam has a long-term illness, all he wants is the chance to lead a normal life. So he is thrilled when he finally gets his mum and dad to let him go on the school trip to the Scottish Highlands. Sam’s desperate for an adventure and wants to prove to everyone that he’s just as strong as his friends. But when some of the boys from his class take a reckless risk in order to win a challenge, the trip turns out to be more dangerous than Sam could have imagined. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+.

The War that Saved My Life

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

A heart-warming story about nine-year-old Ada and her younger brother Jamie, who are evacuated from London to the country during WWII. Ada was born with clubfoot and has been cruelly ill-treated by her mother, who refused to let her outside. Ada and Jamie are taken in by Susan, a single woman struggling with grief. Ada builds up her strength, makes friends, learns to read and finds a passion for horse riding, but can she also learn to accept love and face her painful past? A beautifully emotive story with characters you won’t forget. Ada’s story, post surgery, continues in The War I Finally Won.

Just Call Me Spaghetti Hoop Boy

Lara Williamson

Chapter book

My name is Adam Butters. I live on planet Earth, I like eating spaghetti hoops and I’ve decided I’m going to be a SUPERHERO.

Everyone loves superheroes, they solve problems and make people happy, and that’s good because my mum needs cheering up. Also, I’ve found out that before I was adopted my real mum called me ACE. So now I’ve just got to prove to the world that’s what I am. One mission at a time…

Hilarious, heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measure, this is a story about the power in all of us to be extraordinary.

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