8 school stories to make the term fly by

In compiling a list of stories in school settings, I thought it would be fun to reach out to some of my writer/​teacher/​bookish friends to see what some of their favourites were, as well as including some of my own. 

I’ve not included my books The Final Year or The First Year here, but thank you to the people who recommended them – and to everyone that sent me their favourite stories. 

I remember this book being read to me by Mr Brown in, maybe, Year 5. He had that beautiful teacher’s knack of using a range of different voices to bring the story to life, mesmerising the entire class – even a young boy like me who was more interested in music and football than books. 

The Brain Sharpeners land on a school field in their spacecraft and brainwash everyone in Class 8 other than Michael, who must work out a way to save his classmates from the clutches of the sinister arrivals from space. 

When I became a primary school teacher, Tom visited the school I worked at and delivered a writing workshop to my Year 5 class. It was the first time I’d seen an author in school, and it really set my mind working in terms of choices I would make a few years down the line. 

Tom is a great writer and has long been doing fantastic and important work in schools. This book was a real hit in my class, particularly with the football obsessives who were intrigued by our hero Danny Harte’s ability to solve crimes – in this case, the kidnap of his favourite player. Many children went on to read more of the series. 

This is a beautiful story, following a nervous Olu as he starts his first day at nursery school. Olu’s teacher, Jay, welcomes him with a big smile and a day of singing, playing, and story time. 

Olu quickly realises that with Jay as his teacher, he’s going to have a lot of fun! Beautifully illustrated, this is such a positive book. 

When I was a teacher, I saw first-hand how difficult it can be for children starting a new school, especially if they’re also having to contend with a new country, culture, and language. 

Yangsook Choi’s bestselling story introduces us to Unhei, who has just moved from Korea. On her first day in school, and anxious that her new classmates might not be able to pronounce her name, she decides to choose a different name from a glass jar. But with the help of a new friend, she begins to understand that the best name is the one she already has. 

This is a wonderful story of learning to love yourself for who you are. 

My views on David Almond’s writing are already well documented. I love the way his dialogue is steeped in the beautiful cadences and dialects of the North East. His stories are so often grounded in the place he loves – and the voices and landscapes are always exquisitely crafted. 

In this story, George starts at a new school and meets best friends Daniel and Maxie. They begin to notice that there are definitely some unusual things that happen around George and set about trying to find out more. As ever with Almond’s books, this is a story of hope and community and understanding. 

These are such fun to read, showcasing Lisa Williamson’s ability to deal with big issues around growing up in a light-hearted, accessible way. The series follows a class as they start their secondary school journey. Heartwarming, relatable and funny! 

I’m a big fan of Simon’s work. Here, we’re introduced to Riley, who becomes the unluckiest boy alive after a curse is placed on him by a fortune teller at a funfair. 

From that moment on, life gets very difficult for Riley, who can’t seem to do anything right. This is another fun and accessible story – and leaves the reader rooting for Riley every step of the way. 

A harrowing, stone cold classic of a teen story by one of our greatest champions of voice and choice. I reference Benjamin Zephaniah’s work on a weekly basis as I visit schools, and discuss how powerful it can be to write in the voice we speak in. 

In this book, Alem and his father leave behind their war-torn homeland for a holiday. Alem wakes up alone and is forced to find his own way forward. This is heart-breaking and powerful, cut through with humour and defiance.