Recommended by: Sam Bateman/@slbsamantha Author: Hayley Webster Form and genre: Fiction Length: 134 pages Brief synopsis: Willow is struggling socially & academically. Her mum is struggling too – since Dad left them & grandma (the lynchpin who held them all together) has died. Willow has no one who sees & values her for who she …
Recommended by: Nicola Traverse/@Mrs_Trav_ Author: Tia Fisher Form and genre: Poetry/Bildungsroman narrative Length: 410 pages Brief synopsis: A poignant poetry novel about a young boy struggling to navigate life after the death of his father. With his home life in pieces and struggling with secondary life, Eric becomes embroiled with a drugs gang. Before he knows …
Recommended by: Nicola Traverse/@Mrs_Trav_ Author: Patrice Lawrence Form: Prose/YA/Bildungsroman narrative Length: 440 pages Brief synopsis: After giving him drugs to take and hold, Marion’s date dies next him on a fairground ride. Marlon then finds himself breaking the promise he made to his mother. He promised never to follow in brother’s footsteps, but after this …
Recommended by: Gemma Molyneux/@GHOEnglish Form and Genre: Picture Book Length: 40 pages Summary: A story about a very neat badger who goes a bit too far when tidying up the forest. Age recommendation and challenging content: EYFS/KS1 Notable reasons for recommending this book: It has a great message about the importance of nature; it has beautiful illustrations; lovely rhyming story. Perfect …
Recommended by: Gemma Molyneux/@GHOEnglish Form and Genre: Picture Book Length: 32 pages. Summary: Humphrey the whale is on a quest: to find the one perfect object that will make him feel complete but nothing seems to do the trick. Humphrey soon learns that life is not about collecting stuff. Age recommendation and challenging content: EYFS/KS1 – but there are some fantastic …
Recommended by: Stephen Dilley/@stephenjdilley Form and Genre: Prose /Historical Fiction. Length: 324 pages. Summary: This novel follows members of the Bontok people in Philippines as they travel to America to take part in the 1904 World’s Fair in St Louis. Narrator Luki thinks this will give her more freedom, but in America she discovers many forms …
Recommended by: Stephen Dilley/@stephenjdilley Form and Genre: Poetry Collection. Length: 100 pages Summary: Asghar is a South Asian American Muslim poet who explores issues relating to sexuality, race and violence in this collection. The 1947 Partition is used as a recurring idea throughout the collection to explore other forms of division and marginalisation. Age recommendation and challenging …
Recommended by Emma Sheppard @emma_au_soleil Author: Helen Canac and Agnes Dormergue Form: Graphic Novel/Fantasy Length: 88 pages Brief synopsis: Lila’s father goes missing and she ventures out into the snow to find him. She meets and becomes friends with the wolves living in the snowy forests of her island. Age recommendation and challenging content: KS2-3 …
Between Snow and Wolf by Helen Canac and Agnes Dormergue. Read More »
Recommended by Emma Sheppard @emma_au_soleil Author: Marjane Satrapi Form: Graphic Novel Length: 352 pages Brief synopsis: The author / narrator’s experience of growing up in Iran during the revolution. Age recommendation and challenging content: Deals with military coups, imprisonment, oppression of women, religious rule, murder and death, torture and war. Age 13+ Notable reasons for recommending …
Recommended by Emma Sheppard @emma_au_soleil Author: Nadia Shireen Form: Picture Book Length: 32 pages Brief synopsis: Billy’s pet Fatcat is stolen by a dragon and Billy goes on an adventure to get him back. Age recommendation and challenging content: EYFS-KS1 Notable reasons for recommending this book: Empowering for girlsGreat sense of humourBlack protagonist Other Comments: Part of a …