Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Aiden Thomas is a notable author in the realm of young adult literature. They are known for their debut novel, Cemetery Boys, which was published by Swoon Reads in September 2020. The book gained significant attention for its unique blend of fantasy and LGBTQ+ themes, centering on a transgender Latinx teenager who seeks to prove his gender identity to his traditional family.
Cemetery Boys was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. The novel also received a nomination for the Goodreads Choice Awards in the Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction category the same year.
Following the success of their debut, Thomas released their second novel, Lost in the Never Woods, in March 2021, published by Macmillan. This book reimagines the classic tale of Peter Pan, exploring themes of trauma and healing.
In 2022, Thomas published The Sunbearer Trials, the first book in a new series, which was also well-received. The novel is set in a magical world inspired by Mexican mythology and follows a group of demigods competing in a series of trials.
International Transgender Day of Visibility books for children and teens with titles by Juno Dawson, Virginia Woolf, Kacen Callender, Alex Gino, Kyle Lukoff, Aiden Thomas, Andrew Joseph White, Anna-Marie McLemore, Meredith Russo, and Dashka Slater.
LGBTQIA+ themed books for secondary schools, featuring titles by Simon James Green, Alice Oseman, David Levithan, Phil Stamper, Rainbow Rowell, Dean Atta, Meg Grehan, Juno Dawson, Kalynn Bayron, William Hussey and Erin Ekins.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2024. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels, poetry and non-fiction.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in autumn 2020. These children’s reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
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