Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Libby Scott is a British author known for her collaborative work with Rebecca Westcott. Scott gained recognition after her personal writing about her experiences as an autistic child was published online and received widespread attention. Her debut novel, Can You See Me?, co-authored with Westcott, was published by Scholastic in 2019. The book draws on Scott’s own experiences and includes diary entries she wrote, offering insight into the life of an autistic girl navigating school and friendships.
Following the success of their first book, Scott and Westcott published Do You Know Me? in 2020, and Ways to Be Me in 2021, both with Scholastic. These novels continue to explore themes of autism and identity, and are aimed at middle-grade readers. Can You See Me? was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2020. Scott’s writing has been praised for its authenticity and has contributed to greater awareness of autism in children’s literature.
Her books have been translated into several languages and are used in schools to support understanding of neurodiversity. Ways to Be Me was published in paperback by Scholastic in 2022.
Primary to secondary school transition books including titles by Matt Goodfellow, Anne Fine, Katie Kirby, Rosie Jones, Lisa Williamson, Libby Scott, Rebecca Westcott, Jeffrey Boakye, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, and Tolá Okogwu.
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.
Biographies and autobiographies for children with titles by Mick Manning, Brita Granström, Michael Rosen, Vashti Harrison, Floella Benjamin, John Agard, Jacqueline Wilson, Alastair Humphreys, Malala Yousafzai, David Long, William Grill and Linda Sue Park.
Summer reading challenge – A good reading challenge will not only promote reading and encourage reading for pleasure, but it will encourage a reading culture to spread like a virus throughout your school.
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