Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Jess Popplewell is a British writer of young adult fiction. Her debut novel, The Dark Within Us, won the Chairman’s Prize in the 2022 Times/Chicken House competition. The novel was published by Chicken House Books in paperback in August 2024, with ISBN 9781915947185.
The Dark Within Us is a young adult fantasy novel for readers aged 14 and over. Its story follows Jenny and Luc on a journey into the underworld, and the book uses a modern reimagining of Hell as its fantasy setting. The novel draws on Popplewell’s own experience of homelessness.
Popplewell also contributed to Dark London, Volume One, a short-story collection published on 25 June 2020. The collection includes nine short stories set around London and features Jess Popplewell among its contributing authors.
Horror for children and teens with titles by Julia Donaldson, Jon Klassen, Oliver Jeffers, Tom Fletcher, Shirley Jackson, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Stephen Graham Jones, Tananarive Due, Kalynn Bayron, and Helen Oyeyemi.
Dystopian books for children and teens with titles by George Orwell, Margaret Atwood, Suzanne Collins, Stephen King, William Golding, Kazuo Ishiguro, Ray Bradbury, Jordan Ifueko, Yoko Ogawa, and Patrick Ness.
The Dark Within Us is gripping and undoubtedly well-planned and researched. It provides a refreshing addition to the large collection of supernatural adventure/ romances available to young people.
August 2024’s set of book club recommendations features a selection of outstanding new titles by Candy Bee, Steve Smallman, Ben Sanders, Steve Webb, Paige Towler, Janelle McCurdy, Jo Simmons, Jess Popplewell, Kara A. Kennedy and Maureen Johnson.
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