Suggested reading for years 7 & 8: Spring term

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

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. 

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

A beautiful graphic novel exploring the restorative power of nature. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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

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 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. 

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.

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. 

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

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

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.

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

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.