Books recommended by the Librarian at The Dixie Grammar School.

1. The Dixie Grammar School
Michael Parker Library
Reading Challenge
Recommended
Fiction

2. The Dixie Grammar School – Library Services
Reading Challenge - Recommended Fiction
These are over 150 fiction books which have been selected by the Librarian for students who are able readers. They are all excellent
reads, with varying levels of challenge. Parents please note that whilst we recommend these books to our Year 6-8 students, some may
contain more mature themes and concepts such as bereavement, crime, racism, prejudice etc.
The books on the list are all fiction, if students prefer to read non-fiction, such as autobiographies, they should see Mrs Robinson, the
Librarian, to discuss the kinds of books they like to read. Students are welcome to recommend books to be considered for this list –
please see Mrs Robinson.
Award-Winners are shown in bold – such as Carnegie Medal, Smarties Prize, Blue Peter Award etc. They include books shortlisted for
awards so that students have plenty of choice. Titles marked with an asterisk * are part of a series.
Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Douglas Adams Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy* Humour, Science Fiction
Richard Adams Watership Down Adventure, Animals, Award
Louisa M Alcott Little Women* Classic, Families
David Almond Skellig Award, Fantasy
Laurie Halse Anderson Chains* Adventure, Award, Historical, Journeys, Slavery
R J Anderson Knife* Adventure, Fairies, Fantasy
Nina Bawden Carrie's War Evacuees, World War II
Julia Bertanga Exodus* Adventure, Award, Science Fiction
Malorie Blackman Noughts and Crosses* Love, Prejudice, Racism
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 30/10/2012 ©DGS Library Services

3. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Malorie Blackman Pig-Heart Boy Award, Courage
Tim Bowler River Boy Award, Death, Families
Frank Cottrell Boyce Millions Adventure, Award, Crime, Humour
John Boyne Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Film tie-in, Holocaust, World War II
Henrietta Branford Fire, Bed and Bone Animals, Award, Historical
Theresa Breslin Remembrance Historical, World War I
Theresa Breslin Whispers in the Graveyard Award, Ghosts, Horror
Kevin Brooks Martyn Pig Award, Crime, Death, Families, Mystery
Frances Hodgson Burnett Secret Garden Classic, Friends
Betsy Byars Midnight Fox Animals, Classic
Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland* Classic, Fantasy
Anne Cassidy Looking for JJ Award, Murder, New Identity
Gennifer Choldenko Al Capone Does My Shirts Award, Disability, Family
Eoin Colfer Artemis Fowl* Adventure, Crime, Fantasy
Louise Cooper Demon crossing Award, Ghosts, Horror
Susan Cooper Dark is Rising* Award, Fantasy, Magic, Film tie-in
Zizou Corder Halo Adventure, Ancient Greece, Fantasy
James Dashner Maze Runner* Dystopias, Science Fiction
Keren David When I Was Joe* Friends, Gangs, Lies, Thriller
Joseph Delaney Spook’s Apprentice* Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural
Emily Diamand Flood Child* Adventure, Award, Kidnapping, Pirates
Peter Dickinson Ropemaker Award, Fantasy, Quests
Chris d'Lacey Fly, Cherokee, Fly* Award, Birds, Growing Up
Jennifer Donnelly Gathering Light Award, Growing Up, Murder
Siobhan Dowd London Eye Mystery Detectives, Mystery
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 30/10/2012 ©DGS Library Services

4. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Paul Dowswell Auslander Adventure, Historical, World War II
Helen Dunmore Ingo* Fantasy, Mermaids
Jeanne DuPrau City of Ember* Science Fiction
Anne Fine Madame Doubtfire Families, Film tie-ins, Humour
Anne Fine Tulip Touch Award, Horror
Catherine Fisher Snow-Walker Trilogy* Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Quests
Dan Freedman Kick Off* Football, Sport
Cornelia Funke Inkheart* Adventure, Fantasy
Neil Gaiman Graveyard Book Award, Chiller, Crime, Ghosts
Sally Gardner I, Coriander Award, Historical, Magic
Jamila Gavin Coram Boy Adventure, Award, Historical, Orphans, Slavery
Adele Geras Troy* Ancient Greece, Award, Historical, War
Alan Gibbons Shadow of the Minotaur* Ancient Greece, Award, Gaming, Fantasy
Morris Gleitzman Once, Now and Then* Adventure, Escape, Friends, World War II
Julia Golding The Diamond of Drury Lane* Adventure, Award, Historical
Keith Gray Ostrich Boys Adventure, Award, Journeys
M G Harris Joshua Files* Adventure, Thriller
Sonya Hartnett Thursday's Child Australia, Families, Poverty
Julie Hearn Merrybegot Historical, Magic, Witches
Lian Hearn Across the Nightingale Floor* Award, Fantasy, Japan, Love, War
F E Higgins Black Book of Secrets Fantasy, Mystery
Charles Higson Silverfin* Adventure, Spies, Thriller
Stuart Hill Cry of the Icemark* Fantasy, War
Mary Hoffman Stravaganza : city of masks* Adventure, Fantasy, Time Travel
Anne Holm I am David Award, Escape, Prison
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 30/10/2012 ©DGS Library Services

5. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Mary Hooper At the Sign of the Sugared Plum Adventure, Historical, Plague
Anthony Horowitz Alex Rider Series* Adventure, Spies, Thriller
Eva Ibbotson Journey to the River Sea Adventure, Award, Journeys
Paul Jennings Unbelievable Humorous short stories
Diana Wynne Jones Charmed life Award, Fantasy, Magic
Gene Kemp Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler Award, Humour, School
Ally Kennen Beast Award, Families, Monsters
Judith Kerr When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit Adventure, Escape, World War Two
Clive King Stig of the Dump Adventure, Classic, Fantasy
Dick King-Smith Sheep Pig Animals, Film tie-in
Jeff Kinney Diary of a Wimpy Kid* Diaries, Humour
Suzanne LaFleur Love, Aubrey Families, Grief, Love
Elizabeth Laird Red Sky in the Morning Award, Disabilities, Families
Tanya Landman Apache Adventure, Award, Historical, Native Americans
Derek Landy Skulduggery Pleasant* Adventure, Detectives, Fantasy
Ursula K Le Guin Wizard of Earthsea* Fantasy, Magic, Wizards
Madeleine L'Engle Wrinkle in Time Award, Classic, Science Fiction
C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia Series* Award, Classic, Fantasy
Penelope Lively Ghost of Thomas Kempe Award, Ghosts, Humour, Supernatural
Saci Lloyd Carbon Diaries 2015* Diaries, Future, Science Fiction
Pittacus Lore I am Number Four* Aliens, Science Fiction, Thriller
Michelle Magorian Goodnight Mister Tom Award, Evacuees, World War II
Margaret Mahy Changeover Award, Fantasy, Supernatural
Gemma Malley Declaration* Dystopias, Freedom, Science Fiction
John Marsden Tomorrow When the War Began* Adventure, Australia, War
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 30/10/2012 ©DGS Library Services

6. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
James Vance Marshall Walkabout Adventure, Australia, Classic
Geraldine McCaughrean Death Defying Pepper Roux Adventure, Award, Humour
Geraldine McCaughrean White Darkness Adventure, Antarctica, Award
Hilary McKay Saffy’s Angel* Adoption, Families, Sisters
Sophie McKenzie Girl, Missing* Adoption, Kidnapping
Robin McKinley Beauty Fantasy, Love, Magic
Andy McNab Boy soldier* Action, Adventure, Thriller
Cliff McNish Breathe Ghosts, Horror
Michael Morpurgo Amazing story of Adolphus Tipps Animals, Families, War, World War Two
Michael Morpurgo Private Peaceful Adventure, Award, Brothers, World War I
Beverley Naidoo Other Side of Truth Africa, Award, Bullying
Patrick Ness Monster Calls Bereavement, Grief, Fear, Monsters
Sally Nicholls Ways to Live Forever Award, Death, Leukaemia, Uplifting
William Nicholson Wind Singer* Award, Fantasy
Garth Nix Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen* Adventure, Fantasy, Magic
Mary Norton Borrowers* Adventure, Award, Classic, Fantasy
Pat O'Shea Hounds of the Morrigan Fantasy, Magic
Christopher Paolini Eragon* Dragons, Fantasy
Katherine Paterson Bridge to Terabithia Award, Bereavement, Friends, Grief
Gary Paulsen Hatchet* Award, Adventure, Survival
Michelle Paver Wolf Brother* Adventure, Fantasy, Magic
Phillipa Pearce Tom’s Midnight Garden Adventure, Award, Classic, Fantasy
Mal Peet Keeper* Award, Football, Sport
Anna Perera Guantanamo Boy Freedom, Kidnapping, Prison
Ann Pilling Black Harvest Classic, Horror, Ireland
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 30/10/2012 ©DGS Library Services

7. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Terry Pratchett Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents Award, Fantasy, Humour
Maggie Prince Raider's Tide* Adventure, Historical, Love
Sally Prue Cold Tom Adventure, Award, Fairies, Fantasy
Philip Pullman His Dark Materials Trilogy* Award, Fantasy, Magic
Celia Rees Witch Child* Historical, Supernatural, Witches
Philip Reeve Mortal Engines* Adventure, Award, Science Fiction
Philip Ridley Scribbleboy Art, Award, Humour
Robert Rigby Goal!* Football, Sport
Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief* Adventure, Award, Fantasy
J K Rowling Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone* Award, Fantasy, Magic, Wizards
Louis Sachar Holes* Award, Crime, Film tie-ins, Thiller
Alex Scarrow TimeRiders* Science Fiction, Time Travel
Marcus Sedgwick Foreshadowing Supernatural, War World War I
Marcus Sedgwick My Swordhand is Singing Award, Horror, Vampires
Ian Serraillier Silver Sword Adventure, Journeys, World War II
Anna Sewell Black Beauty Animals, Classic, Horses
Alex Shearer Speed of the Dark Science Fiction
Nicky Singer Feather Boy Bullying, Courage
Sarah Singleton Amethyst Child Cults, Friends, Secrets
Justin Somper Vampirates* Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Vampires
Jerry Spinelli Stargirl Courage, Friends, Love
Robert Louis Stevenson Treasure Island Adventure, Classic, Pirates, Treasure
Paul Stewart Beyond the Deep Woods* Fantasy
Jonathan Stroud Amulet of Samarkand* Fantasy, Humour, Magic
Rosemary Sutcliff Eagle of The Ninth* Adventure, Classic, Historical, Romans
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 30/10/2012 ©DGS Library Services

8. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Rosemary Sutcliff Black Ships Before Troy* Ancient Greece, Award, Historical
G P Taylor Shadowmancer Fantasy, Magic, Witchcraft
Mildred D Taylor Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry* Award, Classic, Prejudice, Racism, USA
Kate Thompson New Policeman Award, Fantasy, Magic, Mystery
Sandi Toksvig Hitler’s Canary Adventure, Denmark, Nazis, World War Two
J R R Tolkien Hobbit Adventure, Fantasy
Sue Townsend Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾* Diaries, Humour
Jenny Valentine Finding Violet Park Award, Self Discovery
Mark Walden Higher Institute of Villainous Education* Adventure, Award, Crime, Humour
Pat Walsh Crowfield Curse* Award, Historical, Supernatural
Rachel Ward Numbers* Adventure, Supernatural, Thriller
Robert Westall Machine Gunners Adventure, Award, War, World War Two,
E B, White Charlotte's Web Animals, Classic, Friends
T H White Sword In the Stone Adventure, Classic, Fantasy, King Arthur
Jacqueline Wilson Illustrated Mum Award, Families
Jeanette Winterson Tanglewreck Fantasy, TimeTravel
Virginia Euwer Wolff True Believer* Award, Families, Relationships
Chris Wooding Malice* Comic Strips, Fantasy
David Yelland Truth About Leo Bereavement, Families, Grief
Benjamin Zephaniah Refugee Boy Courage, Refugees, War
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 30/10/2012 ©DGS Library Services