Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Madeline Claire Franklin is an American author of young adult fiction. Her debut novel, The Wilderness of Girls, follows a troubled teenager who discovers a group of feral girls guarded by wolves and is drawn into the mystery of who they are and where they came from.
Franklin holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts (Writing for Children and Young Adults) and a BA in Media Study and Anthropology from the University at Buffalo. The Wilderness of Girls was published in the United States by Zando Young Readers in hardback on 11 June 2024, with a UK paperback edition from Chicken House on 2 January 2025 and a U.S. paperback on 1 July 2025.
The Wilderness of Girls was named a William C. Morris Award Honor by ALA/YALSA in 2025.
The Wilderness of Girls is a dark, emotional journey through anxiety, depression, and sisterhood. Though heart breaking at times, this novel is a powerful portrayal of female strength and resilience.
January 2025’s set of book club recommendations features titles by Eric Huang, Charlie P. Brooks, Philip Kavvadias, David Owen, Patrice Lawrence, Niyla Farook, Alice Nuttall, Gayle Forman, Sujin Witherspoon, and Madeline Claire Franklin.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2025. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
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