Mathew suffers from severe OCD and hasn’t been to school for weeks. From his bedroom window he makes notes on the neighbours to pass the time. One day the toddler from next door goes missing, will Matthew be able to help with all his notes, even it it means revealing his secrets?
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
Jung-Ling is considered unlucky because her mother died after giving birth to her. She struggles at home throughout her childhood to receive recognition but, at school she excels and is well loved. Adeline enters an English creative writing competition, hoping to be given permission to study in England if she wins. Will her father consider?
Pig Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman
Cameron is 13 years old, dying of heart disease and time is running out. His father has found a doctor who will do a transplant, but with a pig’s heart, which has never been done before. Cameron has been sworn to secrecy, but as he leaves the hospital after the transplant, it seems everyone knows and everyone is interested, having their own opinions on whether this was right or not.
Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals
A profound autobiographical account by Melba, who was one of the original nine black teenagers that became icons for the Civil Rights Movement in 1957, when they volunteered to attend the all white high school, where they faced fierce opposition. The author explores the concepts of racism, identity and justice and how powerful they can be.
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
A highly rated book from a New YorkTime best selling author. The book starts a year after 9/11 in 2002. Shirin, a muslim girl wearing a hijab, starts a new year in high school, and endures the consequences of stereotypes and prejudices in politically turbulent times. Shirin enjoys break dancing with her brother to get away from daily negativity, until she meet Ocean James.
The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke
A historical thriller where 16 year old Ellie travels back in time to 1988 Berlin, when on a school trip. The wall is still standing and she meets members of a guild who use balloons and magic to get people across it. As Ellie gets more involved she comes to realise that dark magic is being used to change history.
Noughts And Crosses by Malorie Blackman
Malorie Blackman creates an alternative future where everything is pretty much as we would have expected, except that there is a ruling class, which is dark skinned and a colourless underclass who were once slaves.
The popular series has four further books – Knife Edge, Check Mate; Double Cross; Crossfire.
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
USA; 1965; Female Author – She wrote and had the book published between the ages of 15 and 18.
Set in a small town in Oklahoma, where the teenagers belong to one of two gangs depending upon money, tastes and attitudes. Both groups understand how to handle situations, until one night things go too far.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
This book is set in the future where the world is perfect, and no one wants for anything. Jonas, a twelve year old boy is selected as the Receiver of Memory and starts to discover everything is not as perfect as it seems to be. The author won the Newbery Award for this book.