The Spark Reading books

The Spark Reading packs include 15 brilliant books that have been hand-picked by our expert panel of school librarians and practising teachers to represent the best of modern fiction and non-fiction for shared reading.

Pre-order Spark Reading now, for delivery in January

How are the books selected?

A lot of thought goes into choosing the books that are included in Spark Reading, and we’re really excited about the final list.

Our panel spent many hours reading longlisted books and gathering together to discuss and deliberate on which ones should be included – watch this video to get a flavour of the selection process: 

What’s in the group reading sets?

Five of the books were specifically selected for group reading – so you’ll receive six copies of each of these in your pack, alongside guidance for discussion and book talk around each one plus a fun author video to introduce the book to the group.

The group reading titles are:

I am Wolf by Alastair Chisholm

Set in a futuristic dystopian world where humans live on giant mechanical animals that roam ruined lands, I Am Wolf is reminiscent of Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines series, but is simultaneously full of unique concepts and phenomenal world-building which students will love.

The panel selected this title due to its themes of difference, identity and belonging, and characters that are nuanced and relatable, making it both a fast-paced adventure and thought-provoking read.  

 

King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore 

Written with a truly unique voice, this simultaneously humorous and hard-hitting story about friendship and fitting in tackles the real-life challenges that many teens face today – especially teen boys, with the book’s themes of masculinity, class and power. Award-winning author Nathanael Lessore handles difficult issues sensitively and is a fresh, new writer in this genre.

The panel selected this title because it is brilliantly written, and a topical book that will really speak to readers and their own everyday experiences. 

 

Agents of S.U.I.T. by John Patrick Green 

This bright, full-colour graphic novel is packed with so much silly humour it’s sure to appeal to even the most reluctant of readers. A spin-off from the popular InvestiGators series, its satirical take on the spy detective genre offers a fun and light-hearted read, while the many puns invite readers to play with language in interesting ways.

The panel selected this title for its accessibility and appeal to less confident readers - with cartoon-style graphics and all the text in speech bubbles, it will support the development of visual literacy. 

 

Deborah Meaden Talks Money

Non-fiction is a great way in to reading for students who struggle to engage with books, and money and business is a topic on many young people’s minds - in particular, how to make money and how to keep it.

The panel selected this book for its short chapters and bite-sized chunks of text, making it accessible and good for dipping in and out of. Interviews with contemporary personalities alongside ideas and concepts that have real-life applications ensure that it is relatable, relevant and engaging.

 

Echostar by Melinda Salisbury

Spine-chilling ideas around AI tech and online safety underpin this superb thriller that ticks all the boxes to keep readers on the edge of their seat. Tension builds quickly from the opening pages as readers are taken into Ruby’s world, leading up to an explosive finale.

The panel selected this short novella as it’s printed in a super-readable, dyslexia-friendly format, ensuring the book is accessible to a range of readers and reading abilities.  

 

What other titles are included for shared reading?

The other ten titles in the Spark Reading pack are all great for shared reading and reading aloud. They include a wide range of themes across fiction and non-fiction, with books to suit all reading abilities. The books are:

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