Dyslexia-friendly books

Shona, Word Detective

This list aims to provide a range of books that may appeal to young people of seven years plus with reading difficulties. The list includes books that:

  • are particularly dyslexia-friendly
  • have a high interest level and low reading age.

Check out these other organisations for further resources: British Dyslexia Association;  Being Dyslexic website.

Books with dyslexic characters

  • Brian Has Dyslexia

    Author: Woody Fox Illustrator: Jenny Leigh

    Interest level: 5+

    Reading age: 4+

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  • Brian Has Dyslexia

    Author: Woody Fox Illustrator: Jenny Leigh

    Interest level: 5+

    Reading age: 4+

    Not knowing his left from his right, and his bad headaches are also adding to his problems. Then, with some help from Dr Spot and …

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  • Budgie

    Author: Joseph Coelho Illustrator: David Barrow

    Interest level: 6-8

    Reading age: 5+

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  • Budgie

    Author: Joseph Coelho Illustrator: David Barrow

    Interest level: 6-8

    Reading age: 5+

    A lyrical story about Miles, who finds and looks after a lost little budgie. With a dyslexia friendly format and effortlessly incl…

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  • Ted Rules the World

    Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce Illustrator: Cate James (cover illustration Chris Riddell)

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 7-8

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  • Ted Rules the World

    Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce Illustrator: Cate James (cover illustration Chris Riddell)

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 7-8

    When a new Prime Minister is elected on Ted’s birthday, strange things begin to happen. At first, Ted thinks it’s a happy coincide…

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  • Test Trouble

    Author: Serena Patel Illustrator: Louise Forshaw

    Interest level: 6-11

    Reading age: 7+

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  • Test Trouble

    Author: Serena Patel Illustrator: Louise Forshaw

    Interest level: 6-11

    Reading age: 7+

    Arun hates tests, so when his teacher sets a timed maths test, he does everything he can to get out of it. This light-hearted chap…

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  • Picture Perfect

    Author: Serena Patel Illustrator: Louise Forshaw

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 6-8

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  • Picture Perfect

    Author: Serena Patel Illustrator: Louise Forshaw

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 6-8

    Sonal has a photo project to do for school, and she’s chosen the theme of ‘family’. However, getting a nice family photo of everyo…

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  • Clever Cakes

    Author: Michael Rosen Illustrator: Ashley King

    Interest level: 6-8

    Reading age: 6+

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  • Clever Cakes

    Author: Michael Rosen Illustrator: Ashley King

    Interest level: 6-8

    Reading age: 6+

    This beautiful book of two fairy tales by Michael Rosen in the Little Gems series is written in a dyslexia-friendly form…

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  • The Great Food Bank Heist

    Author: Onjali Q. Raúf Illustrator: Elisa Paganelli

    Interest level: 6-11

    Reading age: 7+

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  • The Great Food Bank Heist

    Author: Onjali Q. Raúf Illustrator: Elisa Paganelli

    Interest level: 6-11

    Reading age: 7+

    This heartwarming book about a food bank shortage is marvellous on so many levels. The intriguing mystery has touches of humo…

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  • Owen and the Soldier

    Author: Lisa Thompson Illustrator: Mike Lowery

    Interest level: 9-12

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Owen and the Soldier

    Author: Lisa Thompson Illustrator: Mike Lowery

    Interest level: 9-12

    Reading age: 8+

    A beautiful tale of a courageous young man who overcomes his fears when he finds an unlikely companion in a park statue. Complex i…

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  • Reek

    Author: Alastair Chisholm Illustrator: George Caltsoudas

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Reek

    Author: Alastair Chisholm Illustrator: George Caltsoudas

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

    Set against the backdrop of a climate catastrophe, this gripping dystopian thriller is oppressively atmospheric as it depicts a re…

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  • World Burn Down

    Author: Steve Cole Illustrator: Oriol Vidal

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

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  • World Burn Down

    Author: Steve Cole Illustrator: Oriol Vidal

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

    Carlos' mum has made some powerful enemies in her job protecting the Amazon rainforest - and when they capture Carlos for ransom, …

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  • Horror Heights: The Slime

    Author: Bec Hill Illustrator: Berat Pekmezci

    Interest level: 11-13

    Reading age: 10+

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  • Horror Heights: The Slime

    Author: Bec Hill Illustrator: Berat Pekmezci

    Interest level: 11-13

    Reading age: 10+

    Connie is proud to be known as the ‘Queen of Slime’ at school and intends to keep it that way – even though her entire slime colle…

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  • Peace Maker

    Author: Malorie Blackman Illustrator: Matthew Griffin

    Interest level: 8+

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Peace Maker

    Author: Malorie Blackman Illustrator: Matthew Griffin

    Interest level: 8+

    Reading age: 8+

    In Michela's world, aggression is forbidden - but sometimes fighting is the only way to keep the peace. This is a well-paced and i…

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  • Wider than the Sea

    Author: Serena Molloy Illustrator: George Ermos

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Wider than the Sea

    Author: Serena Molloy Illustrator: George Ermos

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

    Ró finds reading hard because the words jump around. She can’t tell anyone because her parents are unhappy and she doesn’t want to…

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  • Be Nice to Aunt Emma

    Author: Anne Fine Illustrator: Gareth Conway

    Interest level: 8-11

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Be Nice to Aunt Emma

    Author: Anne Fine Illustrator: Gareth Conway

    Interest level: 8-11

    Reading age: 8+

    Tansy finds her Aunt Emma really annoying – and she's due another visit soon. A charming tale that explores complex fami…

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  • Everdark

    Author: Abi Elphinstone

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Everdark

    Author: Abi Elphinstone

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

    In the kingdom where 11 year old Smudge lives, it's tradition for a phoenix to rise from the ashes to start a new era of magic. Bu…

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  • Royal Rebel

    Author: Carina Axelsson

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Royal Rebel

    Author: Carina Axelsson

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

    An empowering and fun, relatable read for tweens, Royal Rebel presents a young girl growing up in a matriarchal communit…

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  • Rat

    Author: Patrice Lawrence

    Interest level: 9-14

    Reading age: 10+

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  • Rat

    Author: Patrice Lawrence

    Interest level: 9-14

    Reading age: 10+

    Al's mum is back in prison again - and Al thinks it's their neighbour's fault, so he plots revenge with his beloved pet rats, Veno…

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  • The Den

    Author: Keith Gray

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

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  • The Den

    Author: Keith Gray

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

    The story of teenage boys navigating friendship and family in summer holidays. 

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  • I Am the Minotaur

    Author: Anthony McGowan

    Interest level: 12-15

    Reading age: 12+

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  • I Am the Minotaur

    Author: Anthony McGowan

    Interest level: 12-15

    Reading age: 12+

    Matthew does his best to be invisible, especially at school. He doesn’t want anyone to notice him or use the horrible nickname ‘St…

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  • Mind Writer

    Author: Steve Cole Illustrator: Nelson Evergreen

    Interest level: 8+

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Mind Writer

    Author: Steve Cole Illustrator: Nelson Evergreen

    Interest level: 8+

    Reading age: 8+

    Luke has a secret, a hidden skill: he can read minds. But when Luke meets Samira, he can't read her mind at all. A gripping thrill…

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  • Swan Song

    Author: Gill Lewis

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Swan Song

    Author: Gill Lewis

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

    A young boy expelled for hurting a classmate is sent to stay with his Grandad in a tiny village, where he begins to find comfort i…

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  • Jane Eyre

    Author: Tanya Landman

    Interest level: 12-14

    Reading age: 12+

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  • Jane Eyre

    Author: Tanya Landman

    Interest level: 12-14

    Reading age: 12+

    Charlotte Brontë's classic story is given a new lease of life in this smart, loving and accessible retelling for a new generation.…

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  • D-Day Dog

    Author: Tom Palmer Illustrator: Tom Clohosy Cole

    Interest level: 9-12

    Reading age: 9+

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  • D-Day Dog

    Author: Tom Palmer Illustrator: Tom Clohosy Cole

    Interest level: 9-12

    Reading age: 9+

    Jack’s favourite things are his dog, Finn, and playing war-themed videogames with his dad, who’s an army reservist. He’s excited a…

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  • Shona, Word Detective

    Author: John Agard

    Interest level: 7-11

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Shona, Word Detective

    Author: John Agard

    Interest level: 7-11

    Reading age: 8+

    A delightful celebration of lexicography in a dyslexia-friendly layout, this is a book that will surely inspire all children to fi…

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  • Stay A Little Longer

    Author: Bali Rai

    Interest level: 12-16

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Stay A Little Longer

    Author: Bali Rai

    Interest level: 12-16

    Reading age: 8+

    Since Aman’s father died, nothing has been the same. Then she befriends a new neighbour, who is lonely too. This warm, o…

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  • Drawing a Veil

    Author: Lari Don

    Interest level: 10+

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Drawing a Veil

    Author: Lari Don

    Interest level: 10+

    Reading age: 8+

    When her best friend suddenly turns up at school wearing a black headscarf, Ellie isn’t sure what to think

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  • The Harder They Fall

    Author: Bali Rai

    Interest level: 12-15

    Reading age: 10+

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  • The Harder They Fall

    Author: Bali Rai

    Interest level: 12-15

    Reading age: 10+

    Bali Rai once again hits home with a current and unfortunately necessary book. As always, the characters are fully fleshed out, th…

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  • The Fall

    Author: Anthony McGowan

    Interest level: 11+

    Reading age: 8+

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  • The Fall

    Author: Anthony McGowan

    Interest level: 11+

    Reading age: 8+

    Mog isn’t one of the popular crowd, but at least he manages to get by without being troubled much by the bullies...

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  • Pale

    Author: Chris Wooding

    Interest level: 11+

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Pale

    Author: Chris Wooding

    Interest level: 11+

    Reading age: 8+

    In an eerie futuristic world, society has figured out a way to bring people back from the dead...

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  • Maggot Moon

    Author: Sally Gardner

    Interest level: 13+

    Reading age: 11+

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  • Maggot Moon

    Author: Sally Gardner

    Interest level: 13+

    Reading age: 11+

    Combining conspiracy theory and dystopia, this hugely original novel is set in an alternate 1950s in which Britain is dominated by…

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  • Young Merlin

    Author: Tony Bradman

    Interest level: 8-10

    Reading age: 7+

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  • Young Merlin

    Author: Tony Bradman

    Interest level: 8-10

    Reading age: 7+

    Merlin has always felt different from the other boys, because of his dreadful nightmares full of fighting and death.

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  • Ghost Stadium

    Author: Tom Palmer

    Interest level: 11+

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Ghost Stadium

    Author: Tom Palmer

    Interest level: 11+

    Reading age: 8+

    Three boys go camping in the abandoned Northface football stadium. But all is not as it seems. Tom Palmer's Ghost Stadium&nbs…

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  • Over the Line

    Author: Tom Palmer

    Interest level: 10+

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Over the Line

    Author: Tom Palmer

    Interest level: 10+

    Reading age: 8+

    Set during World War I, this book tells the compelling true story of the professional footballers who signed up to fight. It's sur…

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  • Contact

    Author: Malorie Blackman

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  • Contact

    Author: Malorie Blackman

    Interest level:

    Reading age:

    Imagine a future where physical contact between humans is illegal. No hand holding and no hugs to make you feel better when you're…

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  • Respect

    Author: Michaela Morgan

    Interest level: 10+

    Reading age: 10+

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  • Respect

    Author: Michaela Morgan

    Interest level: 10+

    Reading age: 10+

    Find out about Walter Tull - a hero on the football pitch and during World War One.

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  • Just Breathe

    Author: Katharine Quarmby

    Interest level: 13-14

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Just Breathe

    Author: Katharine Quarmby

    Interest level: 13-14

    Reading age: 9+

    Sam’s dad is in hospital and now Sam is in a new city, new school and a new foster home. A short, dyslexia-friendly story for teen…

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