Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Nicki Thornton is a British author known for her children’s mystery novels. She worked as a bookseller for many years before turning to writing. Thornton’s debut novel, The Last Chance Hotel, was published by Chicken House in 2018. The book won the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition in 2016. It introduces Seth, a kitchen boy who becomes embroiled in a magical murder mystery. The novel has been translated into several languages.
Following the success of her debut, Thornton wrote further titles in the Seth Seppi Mystery series, including The Bad Luck Lighthouse (2019), The Cut-Throat Café (2020), and The Poisoned Pie Mystery (2022). Her books are published by Chicken House and are aimed at middle-grade readers.
Thornton’s work has been recognised for its blend of magic and detective fiction. The Last Chance Hotel was shortlisted for the CrimeFest Best Crime Novel for Children in 2019. Her novels have been reviewed in national publications and are stocked in libraries and schools across the UK.
In 2023, Thornton published The Howling Hag Mystery, the first in a new series featuring the character Ocky. Her books are available in print and digital formats.
Book series for children and teens to encourage reading for pleasure, including titles by Dominic Sandbrook, Liz Pichon, Harriet Muncaster, Kevin & Katie Tsang, Marie Lu Robert Muchamore and Jason Reynolds.
Children’s books to read over the weekend including picture books by Sophy Henn, Josh Lacey, Maz Evans, Ben Miller, Zillah Bethell, Emily Critchley, Eliza Berkowitz, Phil Earle and more.
Season 1, Episode 17 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for February 2024 and why school libraries are so important to children’s learning.
January 2024’s set of book club recommendations features gripping stories, thoughtful picture books and fun poetry from Chitra Soundar, Amelia Hepworth, Nima Patel, Gwen Millward, Nicki Thornton, Eloise Smith, Neal Zetter and Anna Rainbow.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2024. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
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