Recommended Reads for Year 8

Classics

The Lord of the Rings

All he lacks in his plans for dominion is the One Ring – the ring that rules them all – which has fallen into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as the Ring is entrusted to his care. He must leave his home and make a perilous journey across the realms of Middle-earth to the Crack of Doom, deep inside the territories of the Dark Lord.

There he must destroy the Ring forever and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose. Since it was first published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings has been a book people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, its sweeping fantasy has touched the hearts of young and old alike.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4

Friday January 2nd I felt rotten today. It's my mother's fault for singing 'My Way' at two o'clock in the morning at the top of the stairs. Just my luck to have a mother like her. There is a chance my parents could be alcoholics. Next year I could be in a children's home.

Meet Adrian Mole, a hapless teenager providing an unabashed, pimples-and-all glimpse into adolescent life. Writing candidly about his parents' marital troubles, the dog, his life as a tortured poet and 'misunderstood intellectual', Adrian's painfully honest diary is still hilarious and compelling reading thirty years after it first appeared.

The Colour of Magic

It was octarine, the colour of magic. It was alive and glowing and vibrant and it was the undisputed pigment of the imagination .

'Somewhere between thought and reality exists the Discworld, a magical world not totally unlike our own. Except for the fact that it travels through space on the shoulders of four giant elephants who in turn stand on the shell of an astronomically huge star turtle, of course.

Rincewind is the world's worst wizard who has just been handed a very important job: to look after the world's first tourist, upon whose survival rests the peace and prosperity of the land. Unfortunately, their journey across the Disc includes facing robbers, monsters, mercenaries, and Death himself. And the whole thing's just a game of the gods that might send them over the edge.

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is the classic story of a girl growing up in the deep South. Set in Mississippi at the height of the American Depression, this is the story of a family's struggle to maintain their integrity, pride and independence against the forces of a cruelly racist society. 'We have no choice of what colour we're born or who our parents are or whether we're rich or poor.

What we do have is some choice over what we make of our lives once we're here.'The Mississippi of the 1930s was a hard place for a black child to grow up in, but still Cassie didn't understand why farming his own land meant so much to her father. During that year, though, when the night riders were carrying hatred and destruction among her people, she learned about the great differences that divided them, and when it was worth fighting for a principle even if it brought terrible hardships.

The Jungle Book

Saved from the jaws of the evil tiger Shere Khan, young Mowgli is adopted by a wolf pack and taught the law of the jungle by lovable old Baloo the bear and Bhageera the panther. The adventures of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi the snake-fighting mongoose, little Toomai and the elephant's secret dance, and Kotick the white seal are all part of Mowgli's extraordinary journey with his animal friends.

Chinese Cinderella

Born into the world with her story already written and woven with bad luck, Adeline turns her attention to school, where she discovers that she is a talented writer, much to Father's disapproval. 'Writer! You are going to starve!'But with a pen in her hand, she can't help but wonder what it would be like to be a writer - no, an author! It won't be easy, but Adeline must have the courage to rewrite her story.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Christopher is 15 and lives in Swindon with his father. He has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. He is obsessed with maths, science and Sherlock Holmes but finds it hard to understand other people.

When he discovers a dead dog on a neighbour's lawn he decides to solve the mystery and write a detective thriller about it. As in all good detective stories, however, the more he unearths, the deeper the mystery gets - for both Christopher and the rest of his family.

Fantasy

Eragon

Master storyteller and internationally bestselling author Christopher Paolini returns to the World of Eragon with Murtagh. Murtagh, a stunning epic fantasy set a year after the events of the Inheritance Cycle, will publish in 2023. The first book in The Inheritance Cycle.

When poor farm boy Eragon finds a polished stone in the forest, he thinks it's a lucky discovery. Perhaps, he will be able to buy his family food for the winter. But, when a baby dragon hatches out of the stone, Eragon realises he's stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

His simple life is shattered, and he's thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic and power. To navigate this dark terrain, and survive his cruel king's evil ways, he must take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders. Will he succeed? The fate of the Empire rests in his hands.

The Colour of Hope

Years ago, the Emperor used dark magic to steal all the colour from the world. Now he keeps it for himself, enjoying its life-giving power while everyone else must exist in cold shades of grey. That is, until a miracle baby is born – everything she touches turns to colour.

But the child’s life is in danger from her very first breath. Soon the Emperor’s murderous Ripper Dogs and Black Coats come hunting. Can the girl and her adopted father survive in the forest – and what will it take to return colour and hope to the world?

Wolf Brother

A boy. A wolf. A legend for all time.

The first book in the internationally bestselling Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by renowned author Michelle Paver. Thousands of years ago, a powerful and malevolent force conjured a demon: a demon so evil that it could only be contained in the body of a ferocious bear, a demon determined to destroy the world. Only one boy can stop it ...

Twelve-year-old Torak sees his father murdered by the bear. With his dying breath, he asks his son to make him a promise. Alone, wounded, terrified and on the run, Torak must now lead the bear to the Mountain of the World Spirit - a mountain that no one has ever found before.

But can Torak keep his promise? A terrifying quest commences in a world of wolves, tree spirits and Hidden People, a world in which trusting a friend means risking your life.

Hidden Treasure

For the people who live on the banks of the Thames, the river is a living, breathing thing. It can take your treasures.

It can hide your treasures. And, sometimes, it can give them back. Bo and Billy are two children who have never met.

Billy is an orphan. Bo’s dad died when she was small and now her brother is off to war. Both children are poor, but they have each found half of a priceless treasure, given up by the river.

A treasure which – when the pieces are reunited – holds the power to give back to one of them the most precious thing they have ever lost. But should the treasure be put back together again? And why has the river given it up now?

The Red Pyramid

Percy Jackson fought Greek Gods. Now the Gods of Egypt are waking in the modern world...

'I GUESS IT STARTED THE NIGHT OUR DAD BLEW UP THE BRITISH MUSEUM . . .'CARTER AND SADIE KANE'S dad is a brilliant Egyptologist with a secret plan that goes horribly wrong.

An explosion shatters the ancient Rosetta stone and unleashes Set, the evil god of chaos . . .

Set imprisons Dr Kane in a golden coffin and Carter and Sadie must run for their lives. To save their dad, they embark on a terrifying quest from Cairo to Paris to the American South-west and discover the truth about their family's connection to the House of Life: an Egyptian temple of magic that has existed for thousands of years. The pharaohs of ancient Egypt are far from dead and buried.

And neither, unfortunately, are their gods . . .

Our Infinite Fates

Maybe that’s all love is, in the end. An endless tempting of fate.’Evelyn can remember all her past lives.

She can also remember that in every single one, she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday. The problem is that she’s quite fond of the one she’s in now, and more importantly, her sister needs her for bone marrow transplants to stay alive. So now she has to:find the centuries-old enemy who hunts her through each life and destroy them foreverfigure out exactly why she’s being hunted in the first place,try quite hard not to fall in love with them…again.

Twilight

When 17 year old Isabella Swan moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father she expects that her new life will be as dull as the town. But in spite of her awkward manner and low expectations, she finds that her new classmates are drawn to this pale, dark-haired new girl in town. But not, it seems, the Cullen family.

These five adopted brothers and sisters obviously prefer their own company and will make no exception for Bella. Bella is convinced that Edward Cullen in particular hates her, but she feels a strange attraction to him, although his hostility makes her feel almost physically ill. He seems determined to push her away - until, that is, he saves her life from an out of control car.

Bella will soon discover that there is a very good reason for Edward's coldness. He, and his family, are vampires - and he knows how dangerous it is for others to get too close.

Sci-Fi/Dystopian

The Hunger Games

Set in a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called The Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.

When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her younger sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

Divergent

For sixteen-year-old Tris, the world changes in a heartbeat when she is forced to make a terrible choice. Turning her back on her family, Tris ventures out, alone, determined to find out where she truly belongs. Shocked by the brutality of her new life, Tris can trust no one.

And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her. The hardest choices may yet lie ahead…

The Maze Runner

When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas remembers is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade – a walled encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible stone maze.

Like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they came to be there – or what's happened to the world outside. All they know is that every morning when the walls slide back, they will risk everything – even the Grievers, half-machine, half-animal horror that patrol its corridors, to try and find out ..

Floodland

A gripping, prizewinning novel about a girl surviving in a devastated world. Imagine that a few years from now England is covered by water, and Norwich is an island. Zoe, left behind in the confusion when her parents escaped, survives there as best she can.

Alone and desperate among marauding gangs, she manages to dig a derelict boat out of the mud and gets away to Eels Island. But Eels Island, whose raggle-taggle inhabitants are dominated by the strange boy Dooby, is full of danger too. The belief that she will one day find her parents spurs Zoe on to a dramatic escape in a story of courage and determination that is handled with warmth and humanity.

Augmented

In a future where humans are enhanced to ensure the survival of society Akaego fights to prevent her power to grow plants from being weaponised by a corrupt regime.

The Principle of Moments. I was going to be a Mechsim. I was going to use my powers to make a difference. In a near future London, where extreme weather has depleted plant life, sixteen-year-olds must surgically augment an ability to contribute to the new utopian society. Akaego moves to a prestigious academy after the late discovery of her rare ability - she can project a vocal frequency that accelerates plant growth.

As Akaego learns to use her new skill and is chosen for an internship with the mayor she begins to feel like she can change society for the better . . .

and it doesn't hurt that the mayor's gorgeous son, Joon, seems to be flirting with her. But then the Freestakers, an anti-enhancement group, warn Akaego not to get Augmented. Can she discover the truth of her ability, find the courage to rebel and keep her power out of the hands of those wishing to control it?

A Wrinkle in Time

We can't take any credit for our talents. It's how we use them that counts.

When Charles and Meg Murry go searching through a 'wrinkle in time' for their lost father, they find themselves on an evil planet where all life is enslaved by a huge pulsating brain known as 'It'. Meg, Charles and their friend Calvin embark on a cosmic journey helped by the funny and mysterious trio of guardian angels, Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which. Together they must find the weapon that will defeat It.

A groundbreaking and inspiring story of travel through time and space to battle a cosmic evil.

How I Live Now

Fifteen-year-old Daisy thinks she knows all about love.

Her mother died giving birth to her, and now her dad has sent her away for the summer, to live in the English countryside with cousins she's never even met. There she'll discover what real love is: something violent, mysterious and wonderful. There her world will be turned upside down and a perfect summer will explode into a million bewildering pieces.

Thriller/Adventure

A Pack of Lies

When the mysterious MCC Berkshire starts working in Povey's Antiques Emporium he turns Ailsa's life upside down. Ailsa's mum isn't very good at running a shop - in fact she manages to talk her customers out of buying anything at all. MCC is very different.

He can sell the ricketiest old piece of furniture, but he does it in the strangest way possible. Every time a customer is interested in something, he tells them a wild and fantastical tale about it. These stories range from adventures on the high seas, to detective stories, to ghost stories, and more.

Ailsa is fascinated, even though she knows it's just a pack of lies . . .

isn't it?The strangest thing of all is MCC himself - after all, he is the only thing in the shop that doesn't seem to have a story. Who is he, and why is he even here?

The Tulip Touch

Nobody wants Tulip in their gang. She skives off school, cheeks the teachers and makes herself unpopular with her classmates by telling awful lies.

None of this matters to Natalie who finds Tulip exciting. At first she doesn't care that other people are upset and unnerved by Tulip's bizarre games, but as the games become increasingly sinister and dangerous, Natalie realises that Tulip is going too far. Much too far.

Racing, in fact, to the novel's shocking ending.

Where the World Ends

Every summer Quill and his friends are put ashore on a remote sea stac to hunt birds. But this summer, no one arrives to take them home.

Surely nothing but the end of the world can explain why they've been abandoned - cold, starving and clinging to life, in the grip of a murderous ocean. How will they survive?'Brilliant, beautiful...as unpredictable as the sea itself

The Cats We Meet Along the Way

Seventeen-year-old Aisha hasn't seen her sister June for two years. And now that a calamity is about to end the world in nine months' time, she and her mother decide that it's time to track her down and mend the hurts of the past. Along with Aisha's boyfriend, Walter and his parents (and Fleabag the stray cat), the group take a roadtrip through Malaysia in a wildly decorated campervan - to put the past to rest, to come to terms with the present, and to hope for the future.

Orangeboy

Not cool enough, not clever enough, not street enough for anyone to notice me.

I was the kid people looked straight through. NOT ANY MORE. NOT SINCE MR ORANGE.

Sixteen-year-old Marlon has made his mum a promise - he'll never follow his big brother, Andre, down the wrong path. So far, it's been easy, but when a date ends in tragedy, Marlon finds himself hunted. They're after the mysterious Mr Orange, and they're going to use Marlon to get to him.

Marlon's out of choices - can he become the person he never wanted to be, to protect everyone he loves?

One of Us is Lying

Five students walk into detention.

Only four come out alive. Yale hopeful Bronwyn has never publicly broken a rule. Sports star Cooper only knows what he's doing in the baseball diamond.

Bad boy Nate is one misstep away from a life of crime. Prom queen Addy is holding together the cracks in her perfect life. And outsider Simon, creator of the notorious gossip app at Bayview High, won't ever talk about any of them again.

He dies 24 hours before he could post their deepest secrets online. Investigators conclude it's no accident. All of them are suspects.

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you'll go to protect them.

Thirteen

Thirteen boys. Twelve dead. One survives. For now . . .

Adam was born at the stroke of midnight at the start of a new millennium. He is the target of a cult who believe boys born at that time must die before the end of their thirteenth year. Twelve boys have been killed so far.

Coron, the crazed cult leader, will stop at nothing to bring in his new kingdom. And now he is planning a bombing spectacular across London to celebrate the sacrifice of his final victim . .

Historical Fiction

Dogs of the Deadlands

Chernobyl, 1986. Natasha’s world is coming to an end.

Forced to evacuate her home in the middle of the night, she must leave her puppy behind and has no idea if she’ll ever return. Some time later, growing up in the shadow of the ruined nuclear power plant, pups Misha and Bratan have to learn how to live in the wild—and fast. Creatures with sharp teeth, claws, and yellow eyes lurk in the overgrown woods.

And they’re watching the brothers’ every move…But will the dogs survive without humans? And can humans live without them?

The Machine Gunners

Chas McGill has the second-best collection of war souvenirs in Garmouth but wants it to be the best. When he stumbles across the wreckage of a downed German bomber, he finds the ultimate trophy – a working machine gun.

Hiding his discovery from the local police, Chas recruits his friends and together they build a fortress for their prize. But war is not a game and soon both friendships and loyalties are tested when the gang's actions have dangerous consequences. Robert Westall wrote The Machine Gunners for his son, Christopher, based on his own experiences during the Second World War.

When We Flew Away

In soaring prose, bestselling author Alice Hoffman brings Anne Frank to life on the page, drawing from her extensive research in Europe and the United States, to depict her experiences from the moment the Nazis invade the Netherlands until her family is forced into hiding in the annex of her father's office building at 263 Prinsengracht, in Amsterdam. As state-sponsored discrimination turns ordinary people into monsters, the Jews of the Netherlands are caught in an inescapable swell of violence and hate, and Anne is shaped as both a young woman and as a writer who will change the world.

Refugee Boy

Acclaimed performance poet and novelist Benjamin Zephaniah's honest, wry and poignant story of a young refugee left in London is of even more power and pertinence today than when it was first published. Life is not safe for Alem.

His father is Ethopian, his mother Eritrean. Their countries are at war, and Alem is welcome in neither place. So Alem is excited to spend a holiday in London with his father – until he wakes up to find him gone.

What seems like a betrayal is in fact an act of love, but now Alem is alone in a strange country, and he must forge his own path...

Fallout

Is Marcus's fate decided by his family? Or can he stand up for himself to become the person he really wants to be?

Marcus has one brother in a youth offender centre and the other is working with their dad on plans for their next theft. Everyone assumes Marcus will follow in their footsteps, but he has other ideas, different hopes. When a mysterious accident lands a man in hospital, it confirms what everyone in their community expects and Marcus gets the blame.

He feels trapped. Only new girl Emma - with her peace protest banners and political badges - questions this story. Can they work together to clear his name – and help Marcus become the person he really wants to be?

Welcome to Nowhere

A must-read modern classic, this is a beautifully written story about the life of one family caught up in civil war, illustrated throughout in black-and-white by Lucy Eldridge. Twelve-year-old Omar and his brothers and sisters were born and raised in the beautiful and bustling city of Bosra, Syria.

Omar doesn't care about politics - all he wants is to grow up to become a successful businessman who will take the world by storm. But when his clever older brother, Musa, gets mixed up with some young political activists, everything changes . .

. Before long, bombs are falling, people are dying, and Omar and his family have no choice but to flee their home with only what they can carry. Yet no matter how far they run, the shadow of war follows them - until they have no other choice than to attempt the dangerous journey to escape their homeland altogether.

But where do you go when you can't go home?

Freedom

Nathaniel doesn’t want to move to England with his master’s family, leaving behind his mother and sister on the Jamaican plantation. But then he remembers what his mother told him: once a slave sets foot on English soil, they’re free.

Perhaps he can earn his fortune and buy his family’s freedom, too...

Contemporary

Ghost Boys

A heartbreaking and powerful story about a black boy killed by a white police officer, drawing connections with real-life, from award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes.

ALIVETwelve-year-old Jerome doesn't get into trouble. He goes to school. He does his homework.

He takes care of his little sister. Then Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. DEADAs a ghost, watching his family trying to cope with his death, Jerome begins to notice other ghost boys.

Each boy has a story and they all have something in common... Bit by bit, Jerome begins to understand what really happened - not just to him, but to all of the ghost boys. A poignant and gripping story about how children and families face the complexities of race and racism in today's world.

The Bone Sparrow

Born in a refugee camp, all Subhi knows of the world is that he's at least 19 fence diamonds high, the nice Jackets never stay long, and at night he dreams that the sea finds its way to his tent, bringing with it unusual treasures.

And one day it brings him Jimmie. Carrying a notebook that she's unable to read and wearing a sparrow made out of bone around her neck - both talismans of her family's past and the mother she's lost - Jimmie strikes up an unlikely friendship with Subhi beyond the fence. As he reads aloud the tale of how Jimmie's family came to be, both children discover the importance of their own stories in writing their futures.

I Dare You

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 Outsiders

Teenagers in a small Oklahoma town have split into two gangs, divided by money, tastes and attitude. The Socs' idea of having a good time is beating up Greasers like Ponyboy Curtis.

Ponyboy knows what to expect and knows he can count on his brothers and friends - until the night someone takes things too far, and life is changed forever.

Xanthe and the Ruby Crown

Xanthe loves visiting her gran in her flat with its rooftop garden. But Nani is becoming forgetful – and Xanthe wishes she could help her, if only she knew how.  A mysterious cat shows her a way. It leads Xanthe to clues about Nani's childhood, and how, long ago, she had to escape her old life in Africa for a new one in Britain ...

Nothing Ever Happens Here

I wonder what people would think if they could take the front off our house, like a doll's house, and watch us. All in the same house, but everyone separate. No one talking, but everyone thinking the same thing.

Will we ever be a normal family again? Izzy's family is under the spotlight when her dad comes out as Danielle, a trans woman. Now shy Izzy must face her fears, find her voice, confront the bullies and stand up for her family. Warm, honest and hopeful, this is a story about the power of family, friendship and being true to yourself.

The Last Bookstore on Earth

A heartbreaking and high-stakes story of queer love and survival set against the backdrop of a climate change apocalypse, this book is Station Eleven and The Last of Us meets All That’s Left in the World. The world is about to end.

Again. It’s been a year since a devastating storm ripped Liz’s world apart. Haunted by the memories of those she couldn’t save, Liz holes up in the only place she felt safe before her world fell away: the bookstore where she used to work.

Now she spends her days trading books for supplies and collecting stories from the remaining survivors who pass by. Until she learns that another earth-shattering storm is coming… and everything changes. Enter Maeve, a spiky out-of-towner who breaks into the bookstore looking for shelter one night.

When Maeve’s secrets and Liz’s inner demons come back to haunt them both, they find themselves fighting for their lives and asking themselves one big question. As the end of the world approaches, is there time for one final love story?

Comedy

Work it Lara Bloom

LARA BLOOM is back with more teenage catastrophes . . .

When Lara's school announces a young business competition, her friends are buzzing with ideas. But Lara's focus is on her football training - this is her big chance to take her playing to the next level! As Lara and her friends set their sights on the prize, can she figure out a way to balance everything and have fun? Certain people seem to be taking pleasure in watching Lara struggle to keep her cool… If Lara is going to achieve her dreams, she's going to have to work it

Red Flags

Poppy is known for her high standards. Why bother with relationships when boys don’t ever seem to live up to her expectations? One red flag and she’s out.

Cam is known for quickly developing the ick. He’s never dated anyone for long – a week here, a month there, but he always spooks. When Poppy’s friends challenge her to give someone a chance for two whole months, Poppy decides that Cam (her mysterious bus crush) could be the best of an underwhelming bunch.

But Cam’s been set his own challenge: he’s banned from ending things in his next relationship … and that means he’s ready to do whatever he can to put Poppy off. Two skeptics. Two months. And this time, neither of them can disappear the moment they spot something they don’t like…

The Wish Switch

Emma Rockford knows it will take a whole lot of magic to make the school year go smoothly for her and her best friends. Luckily, before Emma’s nana died, she left instructions on how to access a secret wishing well. Emma plans every wish … but doesn’t anticipate obnoxious new kid, Jackson, throwing in wishes of his own that literally knock hers off course. When Emma discovers that her wishes are starting to come true, but for Jackson rather than for her, things get chaotic very quickly.

Wishes will come true and sparks will fly … but only if Emma and Jackson work together.

The Humiliations of Welton Blake

Hilarity follows disaster in this sharp-witted tale of the trials of pre-teen life, from award-winning and critically acclaimed Crongton author Alex Wheatle. Welton Blake has done it! He’s asked out Carmella McKenzie – the best-looking girl in school – and she’s only gone and said yes! But just as he thinks his luck is starting to change, Welton’s phone breaks, kick-starting a series of unfortunate and humiliating events. With bullies to avoid, girls ready to knock him out and all the drama with his mum and dad, life for Welton is about to go very, very wrong …

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love

Gwen, the quick-witted Princess of England, and Arthur, future lord and general gadabout, have been betrothed since birth.

Unfortunately, the only thing they can agree on is that they hate each other. When Gwen catches Art kissing a boy and Art discovers where Gwen hides her diary (complete with racy entries about Bridget Leclair, the kingdom's only female knight), they become reluctant allies. By pretending to fall for each other, their mutual protection will be assured.

But how long can they keep up the ruse? With Gwen growing closer to Bridget, and Art becoming unaccountably fond of Gabriel, Gwen's infuriatingly serious, bookish brother, the path to true love is looking far from straight …

What Happens Online

Existor is the most popular guy in school. Fred is the loser with no friends. And nobody knows they're the same person. Online, Fred goes by Existor@stmarks. His alter ego is the best gamer around - constantly on a winning streak, with tonnes of followers, and the confidence to go with it. But offline, Fred's life is miserable.

His dad's always working, his mum's struggling, and at school, everyone looks straight through him. Until Existor's notoriety spreads to his school, and Fred sees an opportunity: everyone listens to what Existor has to say, so why not use that?Soon, Fred is coming up with outlandish rumours about his classmates, and everyone's lapping it up. His bullies are shunned, and people are finally taking notice of him.

But it's a slippery slope and Fred struggles to keep track of all the stuff he's posted as his lies start to wreak unexpected havoc. Fred will have to answer for his crimes against reality, but will he ever find someone to like him for who he really is?

Framed

Dylan has accidentally been caught up in the crime of the century.

Up until now he's been bored stiff, as the only boy living in the tiny Welsh town of Manod, with only his chickens for company. Until one day, he spots a mysterious convoy of lorries heading straight for the disused mines. They're carrying a very precious cargo and when Dylan decides to investigate, he is quickly thrown headlong into the greatest art heist in history… probably.

Coming of Age

A Monster Calls

onor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started the treatments that don't quite seem to be working. But tonight is different.

Tonight, when he wakes, there's a visitor at his window. It’s ancient, elemental, a force of nature. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth. Patrick Ness takes the final idea of the late, award-winning writer Siobhan Dowd and weaves an extraordinary and heartbreaking tale of mischief, healing and above all, the courage it takes to survive.

Counting by 7s

Counting By 7s tells the story of Willow Chance, a twelve-year-old genius who is obsessed with diagnosing medical conditions and finds comfort in counting by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn't kept her from leading a quietly happy life… until now.

Suddenly Willow's world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.

When I See Blue

New town, new school, but the bully is in Ben's head ... There are 4 things you should know about Ben:

1. He's 12 years old

2.He's the new kid at school

3. His special number is 4

4. He has a bully in his brain

Sometimes Ben's brain makes him count to 4 to prevent bad things happening. Sometimes it makes him tap or blink in 4s. Mostly it makes the smallest things feel impossible. And with a new school, a moody big brother, an absent dad and a mum battling her own demons, Ben feels more out of control than ever. But then he meets April, and with his new friend, Ben might finally figure out how to stand up to the bully in his brain, once and for all.

Jamie

Jamie Rambeau is a happy 11-year-old non-binary kid who likes nothing better than hanging out with their two best friends Daisy and Ash. But when the trio find out that in Year Seven they will be separated into one school for boys and another for girls, their friendship suddenly seems at risk. And when Jamie realises no one has thought about where they are going to go, they decide to take matters into their own hands, and sort it all out once and for all.

As the friends' efforts to raise awareness eventually become a rooftop protest against the binary rules for the local schools, Jamie realises that if they don't figure out a way forwards, they might be at risk of losing both their friends forever...

The Space We’re In

We are her world and her universe and her space and her stars and her sky and her galaxy and her cosmos too. Frank is ten.

He likes cottage pie and football and cracking codes. Max is five. He eats only Quavers and some colours are too bright for him and if he has to wear a new T-shirt he melts down down down.

Sometimes Frank wishes Mum could still do huge paintings of stars and asteroids like she used to, but since Max was born she just doesn’t have time. When tragedy hits Frank and Max’s lives like a comet, can Frank piece together a universe in which he and Max aren’t light years apart?

Being Miss Nobody

Rosalind hates her new secondary school. She's the weird girl who doesn't talk. The Mute-ant. And it's easy to pick on someone who can't fight back.

So Rosalind starts a blog - Miss Nobody; a place to speak up, a place where she has a voice. But there's a problem... Is Miss Nobody becoming a bully herself?

Like a Girl

Fourteen-year-old Eden McCoy doesn't fit in. All she's good at is running, and she doesn't even dare join the track team.

Her priority is to stay in the shadows and avoid the Glossies - a ruthless clique of girls who use social media to punish and humiliate their targets, led by their queen Bea and her sidekick Mikki. But one day, Eden breaks her vow to stay unnoticed: she beats track star Mikki in a race. This bold move captures the attention of Bea, who decides Eden needs to either prove her loyalty and become one of the Glossies - or suffer the consequences.

And so The Testing begins... As Eden is challenged to play a cruel prank on another kid or have that same act inflicted on her, her will is pushed to the limit. The only thing keeping her afloat is an unexpected connection with a boy called Riley, a fellow runner who messages her online.

But how deep does The Testing run? And how long until Eden breaks?

Non Fiction

Unstoppable Us

We humans aren't strong like lions, we don't swim as well as dolphins, and we definitely don't have wings! So how did we end up ruling the world?The answer to that is one of the strangest tales you'll ever hear. And it's a true story . .

. Have you ever wondered how we got here? From hunting mammoths, to flying to the moon?It is because we are unstoppable. But what made us so? Well, we have the most amazing superpower: the ability to tell stories.

Fairy tales have led us from imagining ghosts and spirits to being able to create money (yes, really!). And this has made us very powerful… but very deadly. Nothing stands in our way, and we always want more.

So get ready for the most amazing story there ever was - the incredible true tale of the Unstoppables. Find out how fire shrank our stomachs, how our ancestors spoke to animals, what football can tell us about being human, how we used our superpower for good and bad and how YOU have the superpower to change the world.

Prisoners of Geography

How did the USA become a superpower?Why do people go to war?And why are some countries rich while others are so poor?Find the answers to these questions and many more in this eye-opening book, which uses maps to explain how geography has shaped the history of our world. Discover how the choices of world leaders are swayed by mountains, rivers and seas - and why geography means that history is always repeating itself. This remarkable, unique introduction to world affairs will inspire curious minds everywhere.

Be Resilient

The essential teenage guide to building resilience for challenging times, from award-winning well-being expert Nicola Morgan, author of the bestselling Blame My Brain and The Teenage Guide to Stress. Some events in life will always be out of our control, whether it's a global crisis or a traumatic event at home – but Be Resilient shows that the power to cope is in our hands. Discover how to develop the skill of mental resilience in this fascinating guide from award-winning author and teenage brain expert Nicola Morgan.

From building a support network to building optimism, find positive, practical advice for preparing for, coping with and bouncing back from the toughest of times. Authoritative and backed by the latest science, this is a reassuring companion for teenagers everywhere.

I Am Malala

I Am Malala tells the remarkable true story of a girl who knew she wanted to change the world - and did. Raised in the Swat Valley in Pakistan, Malala was taught to stand up for her beliefs.

When terrorists took control of her region and declared girls were forbidden from going to school, Malala fought for her right to an education. And, on 9 October 2012, she nearly paid the ultimate price for her courage when she was shot on her way home from school. No one expected her to survive.

Now, she is an international symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize. A must-read for anyone who believes in the power of change. * This teen edition is a first-hand account told in Malala's own words for her generation.

Graphic Novels

Ghosts

Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn't happy about leaving her friends for Bahia de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbour lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahia de la Luna.

Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake -- and her own. Raina Telgemeier has masterfully created a moving and insightful story about the power of family and friendship, and how it gives us the courage to do what we never thought possible.

Heartstopper

Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love.

A bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realised.

Amulet: The Stonekeeper

Graphic novel star Kazu Kibuishi creates a world of terrible, man-eating demons, a mechanical rabbit, a giant robot - and two ordinary children on a life-or-death mission in this first book in the NYT's bestselling series. After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement.

Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals. Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.

Speak

I said no.'Melinda is an outcast at Merryweather High.

Something happened over the summer - something bad - and now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen. So what's the point in speaking at all?Through her work on an art project, Melinda is finally able to face what really happened that night. But before she can make peace with the ghosts of the past, she has to confront the reality of the present - and stop someone who still wishes to do her harm.

Only words can save her. She can't stay silent. Not any more.

Poetry

Wild East

Pen in one hand, on my wrist, a ticking clockI've got to make this work, just need a little luck... When fourteen-year-old Ronny’s life is struck by tragedy, his mum decides it’s finally time they move out of London. In his new city, as a Black teenager in a mostly white school, Ronny feels like a complete outsider and struggles to balance keeping his head down with his ambition of becoming a rapper.

But when a local poet comes into class, Ronny discovers a world he’s never considered before. Rap is like spoken word, bars equal poetry – and maybe the combination of both could be the key to achieving his dreams?

Tomorrow We Begin

Trains in the distance, man, the world rumbles by waitin for the stars now to tear back the sky. Every wall must rattle when this change comes crashin in before we start let’s fall apart – tomorrow, we begin

With poems about everything from navigating your first day of secondary school at eleven to finding your first love at sixteen, this collection explores the highs, lows and messy middles of teenage life. Told in Matt Goodfellow’s engaging and powerful style, this book takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster; from anger at your teachers to those blissful, simple days with your mates. With poems that sensitively deal with difficult issues, there is a space in Matt’s poetry for all teens to feel seen, whether poetry is their thing or not!

The Tree That Sang To Me

Some feelings are so big, they're hard to express. . .

When Kai's big sister Jen leaves the family home, Kai knows it's all his fault. His secret burns, but he tells no one, just keeps pulling at tufts of his hair. But in the broad branches of a wasteland sycamore tree, Kai feels safe and free from his worries. Up there he feels he can be whoever he wants to be.

And when a girl called Sky starts climbing Kai's tree, a friendship blossoms ... a friendship with the power to heal. Up here it's like I'm part of something else the wind the leaves the air free to be whoever I want to be.

The Boy Lost in the Maze

In this highly acclaimed and prize-winning verse novel, Joseph Coelho brilliantly blends Greek myth with a 21st century quest.  In Ancient Greece Theseus makes a dangerous and courageous journey to find his father, finally meeting the Minotaur in the Labyrinth. While Theo, a modern-day teenage boy, finds himself on a maze-like quest to find his own father.

Each story tells of a boy becoming a man and discovering what true manhood really means. The path to self-discovery takes Theo through ‘those thin spaces where myth, magic and reality combine’. Doubts, difficulties and dangers must be faced as Theo discovers the man he will become.

Horror/Paranormal

The Screaming Staircase

When the dead come back to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in… For more than fifty years, the country has been affected by a horrifying epidemic of ghosts. A number of Psychic Investigations Agencies have sprung up to destroy the dangerous apparitions.

Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping for a notable career. Instead she finds herself joining the smallest most ramshackle agency in the city, run by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood. When one of their cases goes horribly wrong, Lockwood & Co. have one last chance of redemption. Unfortunately this involves spending the night in one of the most haunted houses in England, and trying to escape alive. Set in a city stalked by spectres, The Screaming Staircase is the first in a chilling new series full of suspense, humour and truly terrifying ghosts.

Your nights will never be the same again . . .

Cirque Du Freak

Darren is just your average schoolboy – or was, at least – until he and his friend Steve buy tickets to the outlawed, magical and macabre Cirque Du Freak. Packed with wonderfully grotesque characters – including a snake-boy, a wolf-man and, most exciting of all, an enormous performing spider – the boys are enchanted, fascinated and yet terrified by the show. Darren, a total spider freak, decides to steal and train Madam Octa – an enormous tarantula owned by Mr Crepsley, so that he can train it to perform amazing deeds.

But his daring theft goes horribly wrong, and soon Darren is caught up in a web of terror from which he cannot escape – and finds himself forced to make a terrible bargain with a creature of the night…

Bite Risk

Sel Archer lives in a normal town with normal residents, except for one night a month . . .

When the full moon comes out, almost all of the adults turn into werewolves, and it's up to the young people to protect themselves from danger. But, as this quiet life begins to unravel, and the Turned start to escape, can Sel and his friends uncover exactly who – or what – is watching their every move, before it's too late?Welcome, to the TOWN OF THE TURNED.

The Zombie Project

In a world without bees, death-flies are needed to grow food. But death-flies need bodies – lots of them. And bodies mean zombies.

Merian understands this, but others are afraid. Can one girl prove that zombies are the future? The action-packed debut novel of MSLexia Children’s and YA 2023 winner, Alice Nuttall. An original idea that turns the usual zombie story on its head – save the zombies, don’t kill them! With environmental themes packaged alongside age-appropriate horror and scares.