Books to get you talking

For World Book Day 2012, we're recommending some books that are guaranteed to get you talking. Raising controversial issues and asking challenging questions, these books demand to be debated.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

by John Boyne

David Fickling Books

Bruno is exploring his new home at 'Out-With' when he meets Shmuel, who lives on the other side of a fence which surrounds a large camp in the grounds.

Read about 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'
Junk

by Melvyn Burgess

Puffin

The disturbing story of a group of teenagers on the slippery slope into heroin addiction

Read about 'Junk'
Looking for JJ

by Anne Cassidy

Scholastic

In this brave and intelligent novel, Anne Cassidy explores a range of themes, questioning everything from the ethics of tabloid journalism to the outcome of ineffectual parenting.

Read about 'Looking for JJ'
In The Sea There Are Crocodiles

by Fabio Geda

David Fickling Books

First published in Italian last year, the story of Enaiatollah Akbari's journey from Afghanistan to Italy has now been translated into English

Read about 'In The Sea There Are Crocodiles'
Rani and Sukh

by Bali Rai

Corgi

A vivid, fast-moving take on the Romeo and Juliet story, exploring the experience of young urban British Asians as they negotiate their way through two cultures

Read about 'Rani and Sukh'
Out of Shadows

by Jason Wallace

Andersen Press

Back in the early 1980s, Robert Jacklin doesn't want to move to the newly independent Zimbabwe with his parents, nor does he want to be shipped off to boarding school.

Read about 'Out of Shadows'