Author

Title

Genre

Charles and Mary Lamb

Tales from Shakespeare

Tells the tales of Shakespeare in a short, child friendly version. You could read one, or all. Also useful if you’re going to see the plays!

Catherine Storr

Marrianne Dreams

Ghostly story of a child convalescing and how her dreams about another ill child become a dream story. Beautifully written.

Phillippa Pearce

Tom’s Midnight Garden

Tom is staying with elderly relatives due to illness. He is very bored. One night he hears the grandfather clock strike 13. He sets off to investigate and meets the ghost Hatty.

Franz Kafka

Metamorphosis

Gregor Samsor wakes up to find he has turned into a cockroach in his flat. It is actually about an analogy about a nervous breakdown but you possibly wouldn’t know from reading it. Would probably need to discuss with an adult after. However it is a classic and worth attempting for advanced readers.

Judith Kerr

When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit

Semi-autobiographical from the author of Mog. Tells of her escape from Nazi Germany through Switzerland, France and finally London.

Anna Sewell

Black Beauty

Classic narrated by the horse itself. Sad but a true tale.

Lewis Carroll

Alice in Wonderland

Alice through the looking glass.

2 lovely adventure stories. Some have beautiful illustrations.

Susan Coolidge

What Katy did

What Katy did next

A classic about the adventures of Katy

Louisa May Alcott

Little Women

Adventures of sisters. Set in America. Funny but sad.

Nina Bawden

Carrie’s War

Child evacuated during World War 2. A little scary.

Anne Frank

Diary of Anne Frank

Suitable for upper KS2

Kenneth Graham

Wind in the willows

Some of the books also have excellent illustrations.

Frank Baum

Wizard of Oz

Well written

J.M. Barrie

Peter Pan

Language has dated but still a modern classic.

Richard Adams

Watership Down

A challenging read but well written.

William Goldman

The Princess Bride

A Classic

Eva Ibbotson

Journey to the river sea

Beautifully written. A girl goes to live with spoilt cousins in the Amazon

Tony Robinson

Kings and Queens

Lovely book which tells, in child friendly language, the history of British Kings and Queens. From Alfred the Great to the bloody Plantagenets, crafty Tudors, to present day.

J.R.R. Tolkein

Lord of the Rings trilogy

The Hobbit

A challenging read. Maybe read the Hobbit first! It’s much shorter and simpler. However a classic-might appeal to boys as a great adventure story.

William Golding

Lord of the Flies

A Classic. Children stranded on a desert island quickly become tribal.

Michael Morpurgo

Various

All his books are fabulous. Check out “Kensuke’s Kingdom” or “War Horse.” Has written 20+ books. Some are about World War 1 and 2. All fantastic

Philip Pullman

His Dark Materials

Other various

Challenging books but well worth the effort. Check out  “The Firework maker’s daughter” (year 4 or 5) or any of the trilogy from his dark materials. First book is the film “Golden Compass” (book called Northern Lights)

Michael Rosen

Great Poetry

All his poetry books are fantastic. Story about Eddie is very sad, about his own son dying at 18.

Roald Dahl

Various

Read them all!! Include “Going solo” which is autobiographical.

Anthony Horowitz

Spy books- Alex Rider

Diamond Brothers Series

Various others

Very witty, challenging. Liked by both boys and girls.

Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl series

Very witty, challenging. Liked by both boys and girls. Much wittier than Harry Potter, little bit dark but beautifully written.

Derek Landy

Skulduggery Pleasant

New to the market. A smart detective and his cunning sidekick have adventures in a magic world.

Erin Hunter

Cat Warrior series

Numerous adventures amongst different clans of cats. Set in New forest. Would appeal to girls especially.

Michael Bond

Loga da Polga series

Trilogy of a guinea-pig and her adventures with her friends. Laugh out loud funny.

Terry Deary

Horrible Histories, Geography, Science etc.

Fabulous series with all the glory bits left in. Often linked to what children are learning about at school.

Jamilla Gavin

3 Princesses

Coram Boy

Beautifully written stories. 3 Princesses is 3 different stories about Rama and Sita. Very clever.

Alan Garner

The Owl service

Bit scary but very clever stories.

Caroline Lawrence

Roman mysteries series

Set in Ostia in Roman times. Really well written books. Exciting clever.

Michelle Paver

Series of ancient darkness

Australian writer. Set in Aboriginal times. Torak goes on a mission to save his forest.

C.S. Lewis

Narnia Chronicles

Don’t dismiss the other books. The Loin the Witch and the Wardrobe. Read all the other books ( the Voyage of the Dawn Trader is a good read)

J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter books

Fiction books, a good read, liked by both boys and girls.

Tom McLaughlin

A series of ‘Accidental’ books

Excellent read, each chapter has the title of a song, a funny read.

Various

How to be the best…

Various fun books on how to be the best girl, boy, most glamorous, adventurous etc. Good fun and light hearted!