Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Children’s book reviews: below are our latest reviews of recent children’s and young adult fiction, poetry and non-fiction releases. We listen to recommendations from our readers, teachers, librarians, parents, grandparents, children and authors to decide which new books to review and recommend.
Our team of experienced educators, parents and librarians looks at new picture books for toddlers, early chapter books, first independent readers, middle-grade stories, poetry, teen & young adult, non-fiction and much, much more.
With over two million visitors each year since 2011, the School Reading List is one of the most read and established sources of UK reading recommendations for children’s and YA literature.
We’re committed to being a subscription-free resource for parents, schools, teachers and librarians and we hope that our reviews help to engender and embed a reading-for-pleasure ethos in classrooms and homes all over the country.
We also feature regular round-ups of new books – both fiction and non-fiction – to help support the start of autumn, spring and summer terms in schools; and a monthly ‘book of the month‘ covering new fiction, nonfiction and picture books.
Each review contains a five-word summary, the genre, the ISBN, further information about the author, illustrator and publisher; the publication date; the recommended reading age for the text, and some pointers to indicate which children we think will really enjoy the book.
For each book reviewed there’s also a useful ‘if you liked this book you might also like‘ section, to help teachers and librarians develop each child’s reading interests. Readers can also have a look at each author’s profile page, which includes information about each author, reviews of books by that author, links to teaching resources and contact details for author visits.
Many thanks to the children’s and YA book publishers, publicists and authors for sending review copies.
My Cat is Called Odin is a gripping Norse myth retelling where frightened Aldo, brave Petra, and their telepathic cat face dark forces and discover the courage to save each other and their world.
Wild Journey is a beautifully illustrated set of five stories linking children across continents through courage, kindness, and a murmuration that reminds us of the families we’re born into and those we find.
The Book of Heartbreak is a magical read filled with love, loss and destiny, as Sare and Leon’s story explores grief, trust and the peril of a heart cursed to break one time too many.
Sad Girl Hours is a raw, relatable story of friendship, love and self-discovery, as two young women face the complexities of mental health, identity and belonging with honesty and courage.
The Snowy Penguin is a heart-warming and educational Antarctic adventure that highlights the value of wildlife research, courage in harsh environments, and the wonder of discovering something truly rare.
Lydia Marmalade and the Christmas Wish is a magical, heart-warming Christmas story about belonging, courage, and love, gently exploring grief and new beginnings with warmth and festive spirit.
Classic Fairy Tales is a beautiful, authentic take on Andersen and Grimm – not the Disney versions – with colour plates and line drawings sparking comparisons, debate, and classroom activities.
Quill and the Last Generation is a thrilling page-turner, following twelve-year-old Quill as he discovers his destiny, faces dragons, and must restore light and warmth to a world lost to perpetual winter.
Ghost is a story of survival and magic, set in mysterious woods where three girls, bound by fate and danger, must unite their strength and determination to overcome a looming force.
Astrosaurs Mission to Infinity is a bold, fast-paced graphic novel adventure packed with dino-fights, chaos, and irreverent humour—perfect for attracting new fans and encouraging reluctant readers to join the fun.
Up Above the City is a moving adventure where Jake and Laine uncover invisible lives in hidden places, helping readers see refugees and homeless families differently while searching for hope and friendship.
Nina Peanut: Epic World Tour Era is a vibrant, accessible read, brimming with relatable characters and laugh-out-loud moments. It is perfectly suited to reluctant readers and makes an ideal choice for end-of-year classroom reading.
Jack-Jack: A Dog with a Job is a heartwarming, funny and thoughtful story where every misstep leads to discovery, showing that being yourself can be the best job of all.
Bigg School: Selfie Queen is a lively and relatable story about Cleo Bayford, who learns that true popularity and identity come not from selfies but from friendships, family and seeing life differently.
Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom is a brilliant read for Halloween and beyond, blending spooky adventure with family bonds and traditions in a story that entertains while quietly educating readers.
Witchlore is a fresh and intriguing fantasy filled with jeopardy and rebellion, where a non-binary shapeshifter navigates grief, identity and magic while confronting family, tradition and modern values.
Luna Grace: Girl from Outer Space is a fun and cheerful read that explores fitting in, finding acceptance, and the positive side of adapting to new places and situations.
Love on Sight is a gritty portrayal of a London love story. This novel is a heart-warming story of becoming an adult in a difficult world and seeking to improve your life.
All Together Now is a funny, accessible poetry collection that will appeal to fans of Michael Rosen and Joseph Coelho. As well as the frequent illustrations, variations in font and layout choices enhance the visual appeal of the collection.
The Big Bad Wolf Murder is a gripping children’s mystery where Ruby and Fillan face danger, red herrings, and betrayal as they uncover the truth and learn the value of trust and resilience.
Role Model is a moving story of Aeriel Sharpe, who struggles with life in the spotlight yet learns, with resilience and honesty, how to find acceptance, friendship and a way to belong.
Adventures in Lylaland is a thoughtful and imaginative story showing how children balance escapism, family struggles, friendships, and inventions, while learning that facing reality is the only lasting solution.
Not Going to Plan is a powerful verse novel that explores consent, peer pressure, and friendship, tackling taboo issues with honesty and sensitivity while offering comfort in shared struggles.
Owl King is a genuinely unsettling fairy tale that celebrates sisterhood, wit over power, and the magic of storytelling, blending classic folklore with a modern heart and deeper meaning.
Pets Tell Tales: Ancient Egypt tells the story of Ancient Egypt from the perspective of its animals and makes the topic immediately engaging and accessible for younger students.
Dragon Girl and the Awakened Flames is an excellent read; the relationships explored are realistic and relevant to the storyline, especially between Emba and Odolf.
Unfairies is a bright, action-packed, and funny graphic novel that moves along at a very fast pace and there are plenty of characters to meet, especially Pip, the main protagonist, who is on nearly every page.
Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop is just a brilliant book, exciting and informative with an entertaining storyline pretty much guaranteed to pique the interest of even the most reluctant readers in this age range.
Mat o’ Shanter is a layered verse tale mixing Scottish literary roots with contemporary storytelling and dramatic artwork. This poetic reworking of Burns’ classic blends betrayal, identity, and transformation for KS2/3 readers.
Poems from a Witch’s Pocket is a quirky, engaging poetry collection for readers 10+, exploring identity, nature, magic and transformation through playful verse, spells and imaginative voice.
Everything Amplified is a raw and fast-paced YA graphic novel that captures the emotional overload of growing up with music, social media, and identity all competing for space.
Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe is a charming romantic tale of chasing your dreams and the power of love to conquer all – or at least to help with dragon-fighting.
Dangerous Girls is a gripping, unpredictable gothic fantasy that effortlessly blends believable magic with a slow-burn romance and keeps you guessing until the very end.
Domain is gripping page-turner and engaging sci-fi adventure that balances cutting-edge concepts with readable storytelling, making complex ideas accessible to young adult readers.
Gloam is a genuinely terrifying tale for 10+ year olds where siblings face horrors from their nightmares, learning that fear and grief can shape courage and bring families closer together.
How to Get Magically Popular is a warm and thoughtful story that explores what happens when popularity, friendship and magical powers collide with the need to stay true to yourself.
Rayleigh Mann and the Quest of Misfits is a fast-moving sequel full of twists, evolving friendships, magical peril and monster heroes in a world where nothing and no one are quite as they seem.
Solving Crimes Is Not My Superpower is fun, illustrated story about bravery, friendship and finding strength even when you feel powerless – perfect for 7-12 year old mystery fans.
Mission: Monster Mind asks serious questions about social media, AI and how tech can be misused to influence what we believe and how we behave in the digital world.
I Dare You is a gripping, contemporary cautionary tale that today’s teens will find both thrilling and uncomfortably familiar. The story is a tense, escalating journey as Winter builds tension from the very first page.
Rock Band: Music and Misfits is an entertaining, music-focused story that younger teens will easily connect with. The story is a smart, funny journey with engaging friendship drama.
Words Can Fly is a beautifully presented book that would make an ideal present as well as a highly visually appealing addition to classrooms and libraries.
Dracula & Daughters is a thrilling adventure where Mina, Buffy, and Bella must trust each other to save their friend, reveal family secrets, and outwit vampires – all before the next new moon.
The Odyssey of Phoebe Quilliam is a thoughtful journey where art, myth, and illness intertwine, and two children discover hope, acceptance, and confidence through adventure, friendship, and family challenges.
When the Storm Comes is an exceptional book. The writing is brilliant and the tension, adventure, and jeopardy work well with the stories each student has to tell.
iNSiDE is a gripping dystopian tale that urges teens to connect with others, question inherited beliefs, and explore what it means to be human in an unnatural and fearful society.
The Museum of Lost Umbrellas is a gripping magical fantasy where Dilly, Callum and friends must outwit a sinister stranger and uncover secrets to save their island, discovering friendship and courage along the way.
The Lucky House Detective Agency is a fun mystery that will keep children guessing, while immersing them in Chinese culture and encouraging them to think about friendships, rules, and risks.
Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past follows Nate’s journey through change and friendship as he uncovers family history and learns acceptance with the help of a ghost from WWI and his new friends.
Alyssa and the Enchanted Forest is a magical journey exploring friendship, family secrets, and personal growth as Alyssa navigates real struggles alongside enchanting adventures.
Run Away with Me is a fast-paced, romantic thriller. Readers will be gripped from the first page and will root for both the romance and freedom that Mouse and Brooke are searching for.
Things I Learned While I Was Dead is a thrilling and scarily real dystopian adventure that will appeal to fans of Lauren James’ The Quiet at the End of the World and Gemma Malley’s The Declaration.
A Flash of Neon is a charming, affirmative story that will appeal to fans of Rainbow Rowell and Elle McNicoll. It focuses on the power of the imagination and how we have the right and the ability to create our own stories.
Naeli and the Secret Song is a compelling historical adventure where danger lurks and only courage and perseverance can uncover the truth and prevent a grave miscarriage of justice.
The Shell Keepers is a lovely book to read, especially aloud, as the Democonch speak a slightly different version of our language! Kauri adds a layer of fantasy and originality to themes we all recognise.
Cruise Ship Kid: Thief At Sea! is a lively, enjoyable read, cleverly addressing friendship, fairness, and self-worth, teaching readers that we should never change ourselves for others.
Evie and Maryam’s Family Tree seamlessly weaves relatable modern-day issues into the historical narratives of two seemingly unconnected families. It highlights that differences can be challenging, positive and rewarding.
Kill Creatures is a must-read for those who appreciate psychological depth, unreliable narrators, and stories that refuse to provide easy moral answers. It’s is an essential addition to your reading list.
Den of Liars offers a reading experience that will leave you questioning everything and everyone until the very last page – and even then, the reader may not get the resolution they are seeking.
Snarky Sharky is an absolute winner as a bedtime story or EYFS read-aloud. It’s a visually engaging and entertaining choice for younger children, offering a fun way to explore important life lessons.
A Match Made in Hell is a slow-burn romantasy that combines demon-slaying with lusting after the bad boy. It will appeal to fans of Netflix’s Lucifer and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Traumaland is a dark psychological thriller that blends horror culture references with a coming-of-age story, set in a modern, dystopian future. It will appeal to fans of The Housemaid and Netflix’s Black Mirror.
I Am Strong Just Being Me is a must-have book for social and emotional development for children aged 3 and up. It encourages life skills about dealing with failure, asking for help, courage and forgiveness.
I’m Going To Make A Friend is a great resource aimed at children aged 3 and over, for home use or child settings to promote social skills. It’s not just for a new child but to inspire children to make a new child feel welcome.
The Tractor Has a Wobbly Wheel is a fun, rhyming and witty story for 3-6 year olds. The quirky, colourful illustrations carry the story along and encourage a few giggles with eye-popping animal characters and funky, stylish little hats.
Little Rhino Lost is a warm story of kindness about being lost and finding the way home, suitable for ages 3 and up. It’s ideal for children who are learning about kindness, community, resilience, and the comfort of nature in unfamiliar situations.
The Blockbusters! is a heart-warming adventure. While Rafa’s new school classmates experience some of the deprivation suffered by school-aged children in this country every day, the ending, which has a major curveball, is satisfyingly right.
Dante N. Ferno is NOT a Loser offers a more light-hearted look at the problem of friendship and bullying. It’s also ideal for beginning a discussion about moving schools and all the differences to be discovered.
Little Lim and the Golden Treasure is a lovely book to hold and a pleasure to read. With just 92 pages and short chapter, the illustrations are just right, and the story is ideal for younger readers to enjoy.
Normal Women is both an informative and entertaining read – an ingenious way of imparting valuable, insightful, yet often delightfully irreverent knowledge to a younger audience.
Ella Jones vs the Sun Stealer presents a fresh take on the adventure quest novel. Ella and her young companions are excellent role models for young readers. There’s a wholesomeness to the characters and an uplifting resolution.
Blue Jelly and Strawberries: Poems to Tickle Your Tastebuds is a funny, accessible poetry collection that will appeal to fans of Michael Rosen and Joseph Coelho. The poems include free verses, formal rhyming schemes and shape poems.
Something More is a charming and affirmative teen romance that will appeal to fans of Aoife Dooley’s Finding My Voice and Abigail Balfe’s A Different Sort of Normal.
Nightweaver is an immersive tale of mystery and magic that will appeal to fans of Kalynn Bayron’s Cinderella is Dead and Amie Kaufman’s Isle of the Gods. It is a highly topical tale that is sure to find a devoted readership.
Circle of Liars is a nail-biting thriller of confessions, guilt, and friendship. With dramatic twists and turns, and a swiftly increasing number of sniper victims, the truth about the fire, the students’ guilt from that day, and their true colours will be exposed.
What Happens Online is a heart-warming read that combines high school drama with video game chats. It offers a realistic portrayal of the stresses of being a teenager, includes gamer lingo, and features a fight-back against bullies.
The Girl Who Raced the World is very well written, the narrative flows beautifully, and even if you haven’t read the original – as is likely for most children in the suggested age group – it is still full of drama and jeopardy.
How Not to Share a Pizza! is a powerful message for children to reflect on their behaviour, how it affects others, and how it makes them feel in return. Promoting positive life skills with guinea pigs galore, the illustrations are fun!
Mrs Owl’s Forest School: The Wet Welly Day is ideal for children aged 2–8 and would be a great addition to homes, nurseries, schools, and of course, forest schools. A must-have for libraries and for encouraging children to get outdoors, play, and explore.
Oh No, Flo!: A funny farmyard fiasco! is aimed at preschool children and it’s a book they’re sure to want to read again and again. The ludicrous antics will have readers in fits of laughter as they try to recall what Flo should be doing.
The Girl With Gills is an original and exciting novel that features a likeable main protagonist who will hold the reader’s attention throughout. The world-building here is so seamless it’s almost unnoticeable – rich with mental imagery.
Jack Jack: Return of the Chickens is a very satisfying read, which sees the world from a dog’s point of view and is written in a humorous way that will appeal to most readers aged ten and under.
Under a Fire-Red Sky is an emotional adventure that blends a coming-of-age tale with WWII historical fiction, reminiscent of The Famous Five. There is childhood romance, powerful friendship, and a very scruffy mutt.
The Wilderness of Girls is a dark, emotional journey through anxiety, depression, and sisterhood. Though heart breaking at times, this novel is a powerful portrayal of female strength and resilience.
The Other Girl is an intriguing yet unsettling read, packed with relentless plot twists that keep the reader on edge. With references to adult themes such as drug and alcohol use, this is definitely a book for older teens.
Valley of the Vikings is an excellent middle-grade fantasy novel starting point for discussions about the dangers facing our planet. It is action-packed throughout and undeniably fun to read.
Wild Magic: The Legend of the Black Lion delivers a positive message and remains hopeful throughout. The illustrations are excellent, adding depth to the storyline, and there is great potential for class activities.
Dadbot is a quick read, with lots happening in each chapter. The main protagonists – who appear to be bears and possibly twins, although neither is explicitly stated – are instantly relatable.
Sunrise on the Reaping expands the Hunger Games universe with a gripping look at Haymitch’s past. Between its layered storytelling, sharp political undertones, and compelling character arcs, this is a deliciously dark and dystopian addition to the Hunger Games world.
The Wood Where Magic Grows is a brilliant story that uses the trees alongside the newly forming relationships within Iggy’s family as metaphors for the changes we all face as we navigate our ever-evolving daily lives.
Sandy Fin: Operation Splash Landing is a light-hearted, fantasy-based, and easy read, with no reference to the Internet, mobile phones, or social media. There is plenty of scope for future books, and the two main protagonists are relatable and likeable.
My Big Fat Smelly Poo Diary Tight Squeeze is a quick, humorous read that could easily serve as a template for a class activity suitable for all levels and abilities. The stories carry underlying messages, including learning to admit your fears and dealing with disappointment.
Into The Ice: Reflection On Antarctica is a stunningly creative book that will appeal to future adventures and anyone who is curious about this unique continent.
Growing Up is a positive, relevant guide that will be highly beneficial to young readers who want the facts about puberty rather than the playground rumours. Growing Up presents an inclusive, positive guide.
Please Don’t Read the Footnotes Please is perfect for reluctant readers. It will also appeal to more confident readers who want something short to dip into. It is a charming and unique collection that will appeal to fans of Terry Pratchett’s short fiction.
The Secret of the Bush is an informative resource for KS2 teachers and young readers – particularly those aged seven and above – as it introduces them to the realities of the Ebola outbreak through a child’s perspective.
Rebel Heart is an excellent resource concentrating on the English Civil War. It’s so full of facts you don’t even realise you are assimilating them as you follow Merriweather over the course of six days in June 1645.
Wink, Murder excels at portraying how some older children played an important role in extraordinary wartime circumstances. Book three in this excellent series allows Mary Clark to take centre stage.
The Wycherleys is a gripping read with an intriguing plot, urging the reader to solve its mysteries, empathise with Aurelia, and witness the budding relationship between the main characters.
Bingsu for Two is an amusing romcom that most young adults will find relatable. The story is a smouldering yet chaotic journey with enthralling twists and turns, topped off with a trickle of solace, providing hope to young adults.
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