Suggested reading for Years 7 & 8: Spring term

Here are some of our favourite books that are perfect for pupils in Year 7 and 8 to read during the Spring term.

  • My Soul, A Shining Tree

    by Jamila Gavin 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Historical
    • Diversity and inclusion

    Three young people experience the start of World War I from different perspectives. Based on the true story of an Indian gunner who fought with the British in Belgium, this is an epic, moving story in a slim volume. 

  • Runaways

    by E L Norry 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Coming-of-age
    • Diversity and inclusion

    Jamie and July have both run to Bournemouth – but what are they running from? A page-turning contemporary story that will spark empathy and shines a light on different difficult circumstances. 

  • The Doomsday Club

    by Kevin Moran 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Horror
    • Myths and legends

    An exciting horror story inspired by Celtic mythology, that also explores friendship dynamics between boys. 

  • My Name is Samim

    by Fidan Meikle 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Coming-of-age

    Samim loves numbers and chess. But after a perilous journey from Afghanistan, will he find a permanent home in the UK? Moving but hopeful. 

  • Wildful

    by Kengo Kurimoto 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Graphic novels

    A beautiful graphic novel exploring the restorative power of nature. 

  • When the Storm Comes

    by Polly Ho-Yen 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Thriller

    Four misfit students and their teacher are trapped in school during a flood. They must work out their differences and come together to save the day in this emotional and gripping story about friendship. 

  • Running My Own Race

    by Abena Eyeson 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Coming-of-age

    Kofi earns a scholarship to a prestigious private school and must overcome bullying and academic pressures to achieve his dream of becoming a professional athlete. A moving and important story. 

  • The Last Bard

    by Maz Evans 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Coming-of-age
    • Funny

    Can Shakespeare’s characters really help Will sort out the problems facing him and his mum? A comedy of errors with heart. 

  • Skulkmoor

    by Hana Tooke 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Mystery
    • Disability

    Two cousins compete over inheritance in a thrilling and darkly gothic whodunnit. 

  • The Night I Borrowed Time

    by Iqbal Hussain 

    2026 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Coming-of-age
    • Historical
    • Diversity and inclusion

    Zubair can time travel! But can he fix his family’s problems without unintended consequences? A funny, exciting, moving story that many readers will relate to. 

  • Finn’s Epic Fails

    by Phil Earle, illustrated by Al Murphy 

    2026 9 to 14 years 

    • Diaries and journals
    • Funny

    Finn just wants to survive Year 7 but faces cringe and embarrassment at every turn. Follow his hilarious year in this brilliantly funny and relatable illustrated diary format book. 

  • Murder Academy: Lessons in Death

    by Sophie McKenzie 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Crime

    A fiendishly challenging whodunnit in which Georgia and her friends must try and solve a murder which no one else believes has taken place. 

  • Nadia Islam, On the Record

    by Abida Jaigirdar, illustrated by Avani Dwivedi 

    2026 9 to 14 years 

    • Around the world
    • Coming-of-age

    When Nadia visits Bangladesh for Ramadan, she joins her journalist aunt to write up a story on the environmental crisis in the area while exploring her own faith and connecting with her heritage.

  • New You For Ever

    by Steve Cole, illustrated by Chris King 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Chapter books
    • Dystopia
    • Science fiction
    • Thriller
    • Dyslexia

    Save the planet and live forever. Just upload your personality into a Pleeka, a replica human body which doesn’t consume food or produce waste. But at what cost? This futuristic, dystopian thriller will have readers on the edge of their seats. 

  • Stealing Happy 

    by Brian Conaghan 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Crime
    • Funny
    • Neurodiversity
    • OCD

    Sonny’s family is in bad trouble, owing thousands of pounds to a loan shark. Can Sonny’s crazy plans solve the problem? 

  • The Day Death Died

    by Tanya Landman, illustrated by Cynthia Álvarez 

    2025 11 to 14 years 

    • Fantasy
    • Short stories
    • Dyslexia

    Jack defeats Death itself to save his mum’s life. But in a world with no Death, can anyone truly live? This engaging, dyslexia-friendly book is highly accessible for older children with a younger reading age.

  • Noughts & Crosses

    by Malorie Blackman 

    2001 11 to 14 years 

    • Chapter books
    • Classics
    • Coming-of-age
    • Love and romance

    Callum is a Nought but his best friend Sephy is a Cross – the daughter of one of the most influential politicians in the country.

  • Stormbreaker

    by Anthony Horowitz 

    2015 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Classics
    • Coming-of-age
    • Thriller

    Fourteen-year-old Alex Rider finds his life turned upside down on discovering that his late uncle wasn’t a mild-mannered banker, but instead a field agent for MI6.