Books to help your child get ready for the big move to secondary school

Hannah’s parents seem to have forgotten her, preoccupied by current quarrels with her older sister. School isn’t much better – Hannah’s noticing a rift with her two so-called best friends, who seem wholly concerned with boys and whether other people are wearing the ​‘right’ jeans. Then she finds a journal in the park. Hannah is fascinated by its creator, Sami, whose quirky photos and drawings appear in the diary.

Ella’s going through a lot of changes – a new home, a new school, and a big family secret to keep under wraps. But how far will she go to stay friends with popular girl Lydia? An enormously entertaining read that will strike a chord with many young readers.

Mia is a secret superstar musician, writing song lyrics that her friends love. But in real life she’s bullied for being different. Is Mia ready to show the world who she really is?

When Frankie starts secondary school, she wants to make friends and be cool, but also be herself and not be too different. How can she find her voice?

Looking for somewhere secret to practice skateboarding, Izzy and Asha ignore the ​‘Danger! Do Not Enter’ signs posted around the derelict gasworks. Sneaking inside along with Izzy’s little brother Connor, they discover an amazing hidden urban wilderness. The girls practice their board skills while Connor explores the scrubland, finding cormorants, beetles… and an injured wolf!

When 12 year old Cora meets Adrien, they become inseparable. But when Cora starts to visit Adrien’s dad’s company – which creates realistic holograms of people – she begins to realise that nothing about Adrien’s life is quite what it seems.

A self-help guide for youngsters struggling with self-esteem, peer pressure or ​‘fitting in’.

Kofi is always coming up with ways to make money and when he discovers his friend Kelvin can remember every song lyric, it’s time to hit the big time! Funny and packed with brilliant dialogue, readers will fall for the irrepressible Kofi and his crazy schemes.

This excellent self-help guide, co-written by a children’s author and a clinical psychologist, is centred around Poppy – who sends the authors regular video diaries to discuss concerns about her friendships with Jada and Izzy. A light-hearted read with lots of tips and checklists, this funny, empowering book will help girls to navigate the turbulent world of friendship.

Edie Eckhart is a feisty, funny 11-year-old who has cerebral palsy. She has to make some new special relationships when she moves to secondary school and her best friend goes into a different class. An entertaining diary-format book that sensitively explores growing up. 

Layla’s first week at her new school isn’t going well – she’s the only child there to wear a Muslim headscarf, and she’s already been suspended for fighting back against a bully. Can Layla win the robotics competition and prove what she’s made of? This laugh out loud story is about making friends, finding your way in the world, and is a great introduction to thinking about the barriers that people of colour can face. 

Can Lily’s talent for football help her overcome the challenges of starting at a new school? This dyslexia-friendly story is interspersed with women’s football facts.

Starting secondary school is a daunting time for any 11 year old – and Natalia is no exception. This is a powerful, readable and relatable story about trying to fit in. Along the way, a host of assumptions and stereotypes about autism are smashed. 

This funny and touching coming-of-age story reflects the experiences of many youngsters making the transition to secondary school or experiencing changes in the family.

When twelve-year-old Ellie gains superpowers after an earthquake, her ordinary life becomes extraordinary. Can she navigate school, friendship battles and strange powers that she can’t control? Funny, moving and empowering.

Hazel attempts to make friends for the first time, and to challenge the behaviour of a boy in her class. An inspiring read. 

Angelica – Jelly for short – is the ​‘Funny One’ at school, known for her clever impressions and comedy sketches. But being funny is a fine line and behind all the humour, Jelly’s hiding anxieties about her weight. If they’re laughing with her, they’re not laughing at her, right? And she has another secret too, a secret hobby: writing poetry.

Hope’s family cafe desperately needs money, but can dressing up as a giant ice cream really save it? Relatable, funny and relevant for all those moving up to secondary school. 

It’s really exciting to be starting at Roller Derby summer camp, but less so when Astrid finds herself doing it alone. A fantastic full-colour graphic novel about friendship and awesome, strong girls, this a genuine joy to read. 

Dynamically-illustrated graphic novel version of a bestselling, award-winning story of twin basketball players and their coming-of-age. 

Written by teenage vlogger and campaigner Nikki Lilly, this inspirational book about growing up highlights some of the many pressures young people face and provides thoughtful advice about how to navigate through these challenges.

When Parker discovers her beloved dog Alaska – who she had to give away last year – now belongs to Sven, she’s determined to steal her back. Of course, that’s much easier said than done… A heartfelt story about understanding others.

Thirteen-year-old Marnus finds himself at the centre of a protest when he and a girl named Leila camp out in a tree to prevent it from being cut down by developers. This is the perfect feel-good book from one of South Africa’s top children’s authors.

A story about a year 7 class centring on a boy who is always content and calm which totally perplexes his teachers. Full of groundbreaking philosophical ideas.  

Awkward perfectly captures the secondary school experience – friendships, rivalries, secrets, eccentric teachers, and also what can be accomplished when everyone works together.

When his Granddad decides to teach Felix to play chess, Felix will do anything to get out of it… but it soon leads him to some surprising discoveries.