Recommended reading books for primary and secondary aged children in the UK
Dean Atta is a British author and poet known for his work in young adult fiction and poetry. He has written poetry for a range of audiences and has performed at various literary festivals and events. Atta’s writing often explores themes of identity, race, and sexuality.
His debut poetry collection, I Am Nobody’s Nigger, was published by The Westbourne Press in 2013. The collection addresses issues of language, heritage, and personal experience. Atta’s poetry has also appeared in several anthologies and literary journals.
Dean Atta is the author of the young adult verse novel The Black Flamingo, published by Hodder Children’s Books in 2019. The novel follows a mixed-race gay teenager as he discovers drag and self-expression. The Black Flamingo was shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal in 2020.
Books About Bullying for Children and Teens with titles by Jeanne Willis, Giles Andreae, R J Palacio, Onjali Q. Raúf, Elle McNicoll, Tamsin Winter, Holly Smale, Sophie Kinsella, Alice Oseman, and Benjamin Zephaniah.
Poetry for KS3 including titles by Michael Rosen, Joseph Coelho, Matt Goodfellow, Sarah Crossan, Kwame Alexander, Chris Riddell, John Agard, Valerie Bloom, Manjeet Mann, and Dean Atta.
Oracy books for children and teens with titles by Joseph Coelho, Elizabeth Acevedo, Angie Thomas, Dean Atta, Manjeet Mann, Helen Rutter, Laurie Halse Anderson, Matt Goodfellow, Ben Brooks, and Jennifer Mathieu.
Contemporary fiction for children and teens with titles by Jacqueline Wilson, Alice Oseman, Angie Thomas, R. J. Palacio, Onjali Q. Raúf, Elizabeth Acevedo, Patrice Lawrence, Juno Dawson, Benjamin Dean, and Dean Atta.
Verse novels for children and teens with titles by Sarah Crossan, Kwame Alexander, Manjeet Mann, Elizabeth Acevedo, Jason Reynolds, Sharon Creech, Dean Atta, Jacqueline Woodson, Joseph Coelho, and Ibi Zoboi.
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.
Books for teenage boys who don’t like reading with titles by Marcus Rashford, Randall Munroe, Marjane Satrapi, Caitlin Doughty, Juno Dawson, Tom Palmer, Deborah Meaden, Dean Atta, Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Malcolm Duffy, Nathanael Lessore.
Books for teens to read before they leave school including titles by Malala Yousafzai, Alice Oseman, Suzanne Collins, Philip Pullman, Jason Reynolds, Elizabeth Acevedo, Juno Dawson, Dean Atta, Patrice Lawrence, and George Orwell.
Shortlists for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2020 and Kate Greenaway award 2020 – recommended for children and young adults in primary and secondary schools.
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