Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Rosie Talbot is a British author known for her work in queer contemporary fantasy and horror fiction, primarily aimed at young adult and adult audiences. Her debut novel, Sixteen Souls, was published in October 2022 by Scholastic. The book has gained attention for its blend of romance and supernatural elements, often described as a cross between queer fantasy and ghost stories.
Talbot’s writing frequently explores themes of identity, belonging, and the paranormal, set against richly atmospheric backdrops. She is a graduate of Curtis Brown Creative and has been involved in various mentorship programs like Write Mentor, which has influenced her growth as a writer.
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.
LGBTQIA+ themed books for secondary schools, featuring titles by Simon James Green, Alice Oseman, David Levithan, Phil Stamper, Rainbow Rowell, Dean Atta, Meg Grehan, Juno Dawson, Kalynn Bayron, William Hussey and Erin Ekins.
Mystery stories for children and teens with titles by Julia Donaldson, Richard Osman, Marcus Rashford, Marissa Meyer, David Wiesner, Abiola Bello, Patrice Lawrence, Konnie Huq, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, and Maureen Johnson.
We Three Witches is a spellbinding supernatural mystery set in interwar York, as Viola hunts the truth behind Edie’s death while stolen bones and child ghosts expose deeper corruption.
Season 1, Episode 36 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for November 2025 and Using AI to help students with GCSE set books.
October 2025’s book club includes titles by Laura Baker, Carrie Sellon, Harriet Muncaster, Nathanael Lessore, Jason Reynolds, N. D. Stevenson, Jeffrey Boakye, Lauren St John, Bex Hogan, Bill Wood, Rosie Talbot, and Logan-Ashley Kisner.
Season 1, Episode 26 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for January 2025 and Why Discount Book Packs are a Bad Deal for Schools.
Phantom Hearts is a gripping graphic novel of love and loss. The story explores themes of found family, being true to yourself, and fighting for the truth amidst rumours and social media hype.
November 2024’s set of book club recommendations features titles by Oliver Jeffers, Jane Chapman, Sally Gardner, Nuria Gómez Benet, Coral Rumble, Hannah Peck, A.F Steadman, Marta Palazzesi, Frances Hardinge & Rosie Talbot.
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