10 superb school stories

My fiction debut for readers aged 8 and above, Hari Kumar, Ultimate Superstar, illustrated by Mamta Singh, is a funny doodle diary set in a school. 

School settings offer so much scope and inspiration when it comes to plotting a cracking story. You’ve got a closed space with blossoming friendships, ancient rivalries, competitions, dreams and a diverse cast of students and teachers. All that set against the backdrop of actually growing up, which, let’s be honest, is a whole thing. 

Here are ten middle-grade school stories that I’ve loved. There’s a real mix in here and hopefully something for everyone. 

This book is packed with action and an undercurrent of creepiness in the form of school trip lore, with some real laugh-out-loud moments throughout. A real banger of a book and a great intro to a shiny new series. 

A deeply relatable and utterly hilarious account of Finn’s life with a fabulous cast of characters and excellent comedic timing. A book that will make the reader smile from start to finish (with a big splash of cringe on Finn’s behalf). 

A funny, feel-good story about friendship, family, hidden histories and diasporic Chinese identity. Filled with fun and laughter, it’s also a beautiful book about self-confidence and the search for belonging. 

A super fun series featuring Norse God Loki who has to live a mortal life (specifically, the life of a school kid), racking up virtue points (and doing his best to stay out of the red). Wild and witty comedy at its finest. 

Fresh and joyous, The Cheat Book series is hilarious. And it’s got a Muslim Somali refugee kid lead we don’t see anywhere near enough of in zany books like these. Ramzee is one of the most exciting voices in children’s books and will always jump to the top of my and my children’s reading lists. 

This doodle diary series is pure joy and follows the life and troubles of Billie Upton Green (AKA B.U.G), creator of The Biscuit Laws! These laws alone make it worth the read, to be honest, but the funny chatty style, the doodles, and the observations about school life are just top class. 

Poignant and uplifting, this verse novel about feelings, family, friendship and the transition to secondary school is full of raw emotion. It reminds us of the power of self-expression and writing and the difference that good, empathetic people can make in a child’s life. 

A short, powerful and moving read about a constantly underestimated autistic girl who is forced into the media spotlight overnight. As well as exploring how society puts neurodivergent kids into boxes, it’s also a story about navigating school life – from overstimulating environments and toxic ​“friendships” to finding people who truly get you, discovering your inner strength and being proud of who you are, just the way you are. 

One of my (and my children’s) most favourite reads, The Wrong Shoes is a heart-expanding, hopeful and sensitively written story about child poverty, art, friendship and the choices we make. It’s an astonishing book with beautiful art and a story that everyone needs to read. 

This book is so happyfying. Bursting with love and joy. Sensitively addressing themes of bullying, homophobia and grief, it’s a beautiful celebration of identity and that journey of figuring out who you are. (Taking a moment here to add that I’m also very excited to read Ian’s next book The Dad Trap). 

Hari Kumar, Ultimate Superstar by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Mamta Singh, is out now.