With the Christmas holidays upon us, we decided to compile a list of our favourite books - especially for young people!
1. The Witches by Roald Dahl –
A fantasy novel, set in Norway and England, tells the story of a young boy and his grandmother. The pair face the secret societies of witches that aim to turn all children in England into mice!
2. The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan –
Percy, after being attacked by giants at school, is forced to join Camp Half-Blood – a school for demigods. The series follows the children at the camp and their supernatural parents on their adventures.
3. Holes by Louis Sachar –
Holes focuses on Stanley Yelnats who is sent to Camp Green Lake, a boot camp in the Texan desert, after being wrongly accused of theft. The book touches on serious topics such as racism and homelessness whilst following the boys at the camp and exploring how Stanley’s past intertwines.
4. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo –
Told from the perspective of a horse named Joey, War Horse tells the story of World War I and Joey’s owner’s attempts to bring him home. Joey sees the unnecessary pain of war first hand, and the importance of friendship amongst this.
5. Pig Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman –
Cameron needs a new heart and is offered the opportunity to take part in a new and radical experiment that transplants his own with a pig’s heart. It’s never been done before, but the doctor says it’s the only way – what should he do?
6. Wonder by R.J Palacio –
A beautiful story of August Pullman, a child with a genetic condition called Treacher Collins syndrome, and his start at his new school. The book shows his experiences and struggles in his new school, and how he overcomes them.
7. Little Women by Louis May Alcott –
A coming-of-age novel following the lives of four sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy – and their experiences as they grow into young women. Originally written in the 1800s, the novel addresses the passage of young girls and shows them defying the society they live in.
8. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai –
Malala, born in Pakistan during times of trouble, stood up to those trying to deny her, and other girls, an education. After being shot for doing so, her story has inspired millions around the world to stand up for what is right.
9. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett –
Set in England, this book follows Mary Lennox, a spoilt and rude young girl, who is forced to move to an isolated manor with her uncle. The story follows her and her sick cousin, Colin, as they grow, both physically and mentally, through the finding of their secret garden.
10. Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson –
The first in a series, Hetty Feather is set in London in 1876. Hetty is just a baby when she is left at the foundling hospital where she grows up. The book follows her story in the hospital as she searches for her mother and explores her identity. She is a feisty heroine with determination and spirit!