Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Emma Carroll writes children’s fiction, with many of her stories using historical settings, magical elements and female lead characters. Before becoming an author, she worked as an English teacher. She graduated with distinction from Bath Spa University with an MA in Writing for Young People.
Her books include Secrets of a Sun King, Letters from the Lighthouse, The Week at World’s End and A Night at the Frost Fair. In Darkling Wood was published by Faber & Faber in 2015 and is a historical ghost story for readers aged 11 to 15. Sky Chasers was published by Chicken House in 2018 and is a historical adventure about the Montgolfier family and the invention of the first hot-air balloon.
The Little Match Girl Strikes Back, illustrated by Lauren Child, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2022 and reworks Hans Christian Andersen’s story through a Victorian London setting connected to the Bryant and May match factory strike. Dracula & Daughters was announced as the first book in her first middle-grade series, with paperback publication planned for 25 September 2025 by Faber.
Dracula and Daughters: School for Slayers is a snowbound gothic mystery in which Mina, Buffy and Bella investigate Poisonwood School, uncovering vampires, family secrets and a threat they must heal.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2026. These reading recommendations include picture books, poetry, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Ancient Egyptian topic books for Key Stage 2, including titles by David Long, Emma Carroll, Emily Bone, David Weitzman, Marcia Williams, Joe Todd-Stanton, Laura Wood and Terry Deary.
Nuclear war and survival books for children and teens with titles by David McKee, Emma Carroll, David Almond, Kerry Drewery, Robert Swindells, Todd Strasser, Judith Loske, Raymond Briggs, Nevil Shute and Annie Jacobsen.
Children’s and teen books about World War 2 with fiction, nonfiction, true stories, picture books, graphic novels, poetry and diaries, with titles by Michael Rosen, Bali Rai, Tom Palmer, Sufiya Ahmed, Michael Morpurgo, Ruta Sepetys and Anne Frank.
Children’s book news for January 2026: festivals, awards, school publishing, comics events, national reading policy, literacy campaigns and major competitions shaping children’s and YA books across the UK.
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.
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.
Season 1, Episode 2 of the School Reading List podcast. With new book post, 30 great books for August 2022, a step back in time to the science fiction of Nicholas Fisk and ‘Should classrooms have wall displays?’
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2022. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2022. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
The Week at World’s End is rich in period detail and all the characters are vivid and entirely believable. We care about what happens to them, and to the world they live in. I would recommend it for pupils in Years 6, 7 or 8.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2021. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2020. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
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