Books for 13 year olds
Books for 13-year-olds – favourites chosen by teens including titles by Anne Frank, Colleen Hoover, Juno Dawson, Holly Black, Holly Jackson, Kathleen Glasgow, Leigh Bardugo, Suzanne Collins, Holly Jackson and Adam Silvera.
Markus Zusak author page
Markus Zusak biography
Markus Zusak grew up in Sydney, Australia. He writes fiction for young adult and adult readers, and his books include The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl, I Am the Messenger, The Book Thief and Bridge of Clay.
The Book Thief is a historical novel set in Nazi Germany in 1939 and follows Liesel Meminger, a foster girl who learns to read after stealing her first book. A Penguin Random House teaching guide identifies The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl and I Am the Messenger as four books Zusak wrote before The Book Thief.
The Book Thief was published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on 11 September 2007 in a paperback edition for readers aged 12 and up. The Book Thief won a Michael L. Printz Honor in 2007, and the same award information records it as a 2007 ALA Best Books for Young Adults winner and a 2006 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year winner.
Bridge of Clay was announced for publication in hardback, ebook and audiobook formats in autumn 2018. Three Wild Dogs (and the truth), a memoir by Zusak, is a 240-page Pan paperback with a publication date of 29 January 2026.
Biography writer: Joanna Nance-Phillips
Children’s literature expert and primary school teacher with 30+ years of experience running a primary school library, teaching literacy and tutoring in the UK and abroad. Articles and reviews by Joanna Nance-Phillips 
100 question children’s book quiz for pupils aged 7-11 in KS2
A 100 question quiz with a festive Christmas round for children aged 7-11 in KS2. Genres include fantasy, historical, mystery, adventure and picture books. This literacy quiz is ideal for end of term school activities, family fun in the holiday, or something for your children to do at your local library.
Year 7 recommended reading list for children aged 11-12
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.
Combat sports books for children and teens
Combat sports books for children and teens with titles by María Isabel Sánchez Vegara, James Patterson, Kwame Alexander, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Markus Zusak, Fonda Lee, Robin Ha, Nicola Adams, Ronda Rousey, and C. S. Pacat.
World War 2 books for children and teens
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.
Bestselling books by Markus Zusak
Browse Markus Zusak books on UK.Bookshop.orgBrowse Markus Zusak books on Waterstones.com
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Our latest reading national curriculum year group recommended reading lists:
- Books for EYFS | Books for Reception
- Books for KS1 | Books for Year 1 | Books for Year 2
- Books for KS2 | Books for Year 3 | Books for Year 4 | Books for Year 5 | Books for Year 6
- Books for KS3 | Books for Year 7 | Books for Year 8 | Books for Year 9
- Books for KS4 | Books for Year 10 | Books for Year 11
- Books for 6th Form
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