Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Elle McNicoll is a Scottish children’s and young adult author and screenwriter.
Her debut novel, A Kind of Spark, was published by Knights Of in 2020. The book won the Blue Peter Book Award and the Overall Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, and was also named Blackwell’s Book of 2020.
McNicoll followed it with Show Us Who You Are in 2021. In 2022, Knights Of published Like a Charm, the first book in a fantasy series set in Edinburgh, followed by Like a Curse in 2023.
In 2024, she published Keedie, a prequel to A Kind of Spark, and the young adult novel Some Like It Cold. Her 2025 books include Wish You Were Her and Role Model.
A Kind of Spark was adapted for television in partnership with BBC Children’s and 9 Story Media Group, and the series premiered on BBC iPlayer on 31 March 2023.
In January 2026, The Bookseller reported that Pan Macmillan had acquired McNicoll’s backlist in an eight-book deal.
The School Reading List compiles this list of recommended books monthly. This children’s and YA books of the month list highlights new releases and editions of fiction and non-fiction books suitable for children and young adults aged 2-16.
Books for children about politicians, big egos and influencers with titles by Michael Rosen, Hans Christian Andersen, L. Frank Baum, Beverley Naidoo, Elle McNicoll, Yomi Adegoke, Rebecca F. Kuang, Naomi Klein, Jon Ronson, and Maria Ressa.
Books about AI and AI ethics for children and teens with titles by Malorie Blackman, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Peter Brown, Neal Shusterman, Philip K. Dick, Marie Lu, Hannah Fry, Cathy O’Neil, Laura Bates, and Kazuo Ishiguro.
Children’s books to combat hatred including titles by Michael Rosen, Malorie Blackman, Benjamin Zephaniah, Angie Thomas, Jason Reynolds, David Olusoga, R. J. Palacio, Lois Lowry, Elle McNicoll, and Nicola Davies.
Books for year 7 – our reading recommendation for 11 year olds at the start of secondary school in Year 7, including titles by A.M Dassu, Mitch Johnson, Lisa Thompson, Gillian Cross, Malorie Blackman, R.J. Palacio, Philip Pullman, Catherine Johnson & Michael Rosen.
Books to help teach diversity to children in KS1 and KS2 in primary schools – with characters and settings to introduce age-appropriate discussions of the diversity of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, education, disability, identity, nationality, religion, sexuality, neurodiversity, social background, and beliefs.
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.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2025. These reading recommendations include picture books, poetry, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2025. These reading recommendations include picture books, poetry, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
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.
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