Year 7
The Boy at the Back of the Class, by Onjali Q. Rauf
Told with humour and heart, 'THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS' offers a child's perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn't always make sense.
Can You See Me? By Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
Tally isn't ashamed of being autistic - even if it complicates life sometimes, it's part of who she is. But this is her first year at Kingswood Academy, and her best friend, Layla, is the only one who knows. And while a lot of other people are uncomfortable around Tally, Layla has never been one of them . . . until now. A coming-of-age story about learning to celebrate yourself and teaching the world to recognize you too.
Armistice Runner by Tom Palmer
Weaving past and present, this story follows both Lily, a runner in present day and her grandfather, who was a runner in the First World War. Lily has lots of worries. She's struggling to compete in her fell-running races and, worse, she's losing her gran to Alzheimer's. But then she discovers her great-great-grandfather's diaries from the First World War. Could his incredible story of bravery help her reconnect with her gran and even give her the inspiration she needs to push through and win?
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
This whimsical historical tale has something timeless and wonderful about it - like all the best children's classics. It's about a courageous, intelligent girl called Sophie, who was found floating in a cello case in the English channel as a baby. The man who found her - Charles - decides immediately to do the only natural thing - raise and love this baby girl as if she was his own. He is quirky, eccentric and more concerned with raising a happy child, than one who fits into society's expectations.
Wonder by R.J Palacio
Wonder' tells the story of a young boy, August Pullman aka "Auggie", who is going to begin attending school for the first time ever. Auggie has been home-schooled for years by his mother because he was born with severe facial deformities, requiring multiple operations over the course of his young life. Despite the myriad of surgeries that he has undergone, he still lives with significant facial disfigurement. Now, Auggie will be entering the fifth grade at Beecher Prep. This story highlights the cruelty of people's actions, bred from ignorance and fear. This story effectively prompts readers to examine the impact of their actions and words and is a wonderful lesson in empathy.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Connor, a young lad of 13 years has an encounter with a monster. His mother is suffering from cancer, at school he's bullied, his father has a new family... the monster tells him four tales. What are they about? This is an incredible book about the enormous burdens of responsibility and grief and loss.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Meg always felt she was different and when she and her little brother Charles Murry go searching for their lost father, they find themselves travelling on a dangerous journey through a 'wrinkle in time'. As the cosmic evil forces of darkness threaten to swallow the universe, Meg must overcome her insecurities and channel all her inner strengths - her stubbornness, anger and ultimately her love - to save her family. An exciting mixture of fantasy and science fiction, which all the way through is dominated by the funny and mysterious trio of guardian angels known as Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which, A Wrinkle in Time is an empowering story about the battle between good and evil and the power of love.
