What Are You Looking For?

A light fantasy adventure centred on an imposed responsibility, a puzzle and a changing environment. The story’s interest appears to come from Rani working out what matters most while managing the troublesome clouds.

A thoughtful fairy-tale adventure about a girl whose exceptional singing cannot protect her from shame, manipulation or unfair judgement. Its strongest thread is Aza’s movement towards belonging and self-worth, though beauty remains a powerful force in the story.

An energetic race story where the excitement of competition is balanced by moments of empathy. Its strongest message is that a satisfying result can involve kindness, fair choices and sharing, not simply finishing first.

This is a personal account of rejecting inherited hatred and choosing peace. It offers a way into questions about responsibility, identity and prejudice, while engaging with terrorism and family history rather than treating them as abstract subjects.

A sports-centred school story broadens into questions about trying unfamiliar activities and supporting a friend. Kyle’s basketball and theatre commitments provide the main conflict, while homophobic bullying is a significant social issue in the story.

Expect an atmospheric historical fantasy centred on a vulnerable boy, an alchemist’s dangerous ambitions, and cats drawn into rivalry over magical inheritance. Its plot combines adventure with grim events and unsettling supernatural ideas.

This offers a compact fantasy quest involving two girls, a gatekeeper, a dragon spirit, a sorcerer and a rival. The central dramatic idea is revenge within a magical conflict.

This is a politically charged war thriller that gives competing state and federal positions some strength while showing how quickly resistance, loyalty and justice become morally difficult.

A dark, plot-driven fantasy about surviving occupation and reclaiming identity, with court intrigue, resistance and magic. Its central journey from frightened captive to leader is accompanied by graphic brutality and morally difficult choices.

A lively story about a wronged schoolgirl choosing increasingly risky ways to recover her future. Its strongest discussion point is the gap between understanding Bernetta’s predicament and approving of her solution.

This is a supernatural thriller about a transgender teen whose post-operative recovery is interrupted by a werewolf attack. Friendship, bodily change, prejudice and the pull of revenge sit alongside the horror premise.

Choose this for a reader who enjoys high-seas adventure, mermaids, treasure hunts, riddles and brisk action. The story also offers a character-led exploration of identity, friendship, prejudice and belonging.

This is an adventurous, emotionally charged fantasy combining dragons with Cold War intrigue. It follows danger, friendship, romance and hope while confronting racism, bereavement, political violence and the destructive consequences of power.

This is an atmospheric, dark fantasy centred on a distinctive card-based magic system and Elspeth’s uneasy relationship with the Nightmare. Romance develops alongside political conflict rather than replacing the fantasy plot.

This is an encouraging, action-focused introduction to caring for oneself, other people and the planet. Its strongest offering is turning large global aims into small, concrete things children can try, discuss or make together.

Expect a large-scale space adventure with mythic elements, unusual worlds and questions about identity. The illustrations are an important part of the experience, adding atmosphere rather than simply depicting events.

Expect an intense crime thriller about grief, anger and the pursuit of revenge. The brothers face secrecy, hostility and danger while investigating their sister’s death, with an unsettling atmosphere and a strongly action-driven climax.

This is a lively university romance built around an advice column: Mary-Elizabeth gives relationship guidance while navigating attraction, questionable choices, shaken confidence and changing views of the people around her.

This is a multi-viewpoint historical romance about four young Black women balancing love, work, family expectations and social change in 1910 Chicago. It offers ambitious characters and a setting shaped by racial inequality and restricted opportunities for women.

A richly detailed historical adventure for readers drawn to horses, chariot-racing and Roman life. Dido’s story brings together danger, relationships and moral questions, while the volume’s density and links with earlier books may make it most rewarding for confident, independent readers.

This offers an engrossing, multi-viewpoint dystopian adventure, with telepathy, wartime politics, secret identities and dramatic reversals. Its strongest appeal appears to be the combination of tense plotting and questions about belonging, tolerance and social control.

This is an adventure about two young people from opposing populations whose friendship brings hidden injustice into view. Its imaginative giant-built city provides a route into questions about prejudice, power, exploitation and environmental responsibility.

This is a sharp, often comic story about Elizabeth Bennet’s relationships and mistaken judgements, set within a society where marriage, money and social rank strongly shape women’s choices.

A fast-moving story about being misunderstood, facing an oppressive future and deciding whether individual actions can make a difference. It offers suspense, moral pressure and a strong focus on justice and responsibility.

Expect a fast-moving, high-threat story centred on escape, survival and the choices Luka makes when prison control collapses. Its imaginative future setting is paired with frightening creatures, bodily danger and questions about justice.

Expect a lively read-aloud built from twelve crayons’ letters, each with a distinct complaint and personality. Illustrations extend the written messages, while Duncan’s response invites playful experimentation with colour.

This is a tense dystopian story about selection, survival and uncertainty, pairing a damaged future society with a personal struggle over whether affection and trust can coexist.

A fast-moving speculative adventure about avatars, identity and control, set across competing virtual worlds and the real world. Expect pursuit, infection and conflict alongside Jonah’s uncertainty about what is right.

This is an emotionally intense fantasy finale combining romance, family grief, supernatural politics and dangerous missions. Its appeal lies in interconnected relationships and high-stakes choices, but it expects familiarity with a wider fictional world.

This is a faith-centred sports story about entering unfamiliar surroundings while facing racism, social pressure and difficult choices. Its strongest focus appears to be how Perry understands identity, belonging and responsibility through a Christian lens.

This is an action-led coming-of-age story about grief, courage and belonging. Siki challenges expected gender roles while training as a warrior, and her personal questions connect with the wider struggle to protect Apache land and community.

This is an identity-and-belonging story in which changing place does not resolve Rico’s outsider feelings. It offers a serious exploration of race, friendship, family strain and the search for home.

This is a school-based ethical conflict with comic narration: Karl resists organised cheating while severe institutional discipline escalates the stakes. Expect attention to peer pressure, authority and competing ideas of fairness rather than a straightforward rule-following lesson.

Expect a dark fantasy quest built around poison, healing, magic and political tyranny. The book offers wry humour and ghoulish imagery, but its elaborate style and complicated plotting may make sustained reading effort worthwhile.

A lively friendship-and-romance story about being swept into someone else’s enthusiasm. Its humour comes from literary role-play, school encounters and crossed signals, while Julie’s uncertainty gives the story a more reflective question about love.

This is a fantasy about dragons hiding among humans, a young dragon facing an imposed destiny, and a soldier whose certainty about his mission begins to weaken.

A historically grounded story about fear, racial prejudice and divided loyalties, centred on Shad’s choice as his community responds to emancipation and economic insecurity.

This is a supernatural school adventure built around danger, divided loyalties and moral choices. Its central tension comes from humans living among vampires who may be dangerous yet can also behave ethically.

A promising discussion choice for a reader interested in fairness and resisting other people's expectations.

A discussion choice for a reader interested in friendship and unfairness, with care around debt and criminal choices.