Recommended books
for 11- 12 year olds
1. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Josh and JB are basketball legends at their school. They also happen to be identical twins, but it’s easy to tell them apart if you know how to look.
As the boys build up to one of the most important matches of their
lives, tensions grow between them and things at home and at school also
add to the pressure. The only time they feel truly themselves is on the
court. But is basketball enough to help them navigate the tricky
transition to young adulthood when they have a major falling-out and it
seems that Dad is hiding something?
With impressive attention to
detail, the powerful, dynamic illustrations fizz with energy and do so
much more than just follow the series of events. Using shades of orange,
grey and black, the graphics bring out the soul of the characters
allowing readers to feel their joy, pain, frustration and anger.
Although it reads like a novel, the twins’ story is told through poetry in many different forms from rap to haiku and free verse. If any book is likely to turn sports fans into book fans or convince readers that poetry is cool, this is it.
2. The Wolf Rider by Katherine Rundell
Feo and her mother live in the snowy woods of Russia, in a house full of food and fireplaces. Ten minutes away, in a ruined chapel, lives a pack of wolves. Feo's mother is a wolf wilder, and Feo is a wolf wilder in training: a person who teaches tamed animals to be wild again, to fend for themselves, and to fight and to run.
When the corrupt Russian Army threatens her wolves and arrests her mum, Feo is left with no option but to go on the run. With her wolves by her side, she sets off on a daring, exciting and sometimes scary journey through the snow to St Petersburg, pursued by an evil general who's determined to kill Feo's wolves and stop her at all costs.
The Wolf Wilder is full of wonderful and memorable characters, but none so much as Feo herself, who is determined, a little bit wild and fiercely independent. Author Katherine Rundell brilliantly captures the wildness of childhood, and the bravery required to get through it. It's a story of revolution and adventure, about standing up for the things you love and fighting back. And, of course, wolves.
3. Wonder by R J Palacio
Like most ten-year olds, August ('Auggie') Pullman just wants to be accepted at his new school, especially as he's been previously been home-schooled. However, Auggie can't help but stand out - he was born with a severe facial deformity. Most people react with horror to his appearance and don't take the time to meet the smart, funny, Star Wars-loving boy underneath.
Written in the first person, Wonder follows Auggie as he experiences more than the usual ups-and-downs of friendships, family and school. The story is also told from the perspective of other characters, providing glimpses into their own behaviour and exploring the impact our actions can have on others.
Thought-provoking, engaging and uplifting, this is a wonderful read with a powerful message - we can all choose to be kind.
4. Harry Potter and The Phillosopher's Stone by J K Rowling
Harry Potter is an ordinary boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs
at his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon's house, which he thinks is normal
for someone like him who's parents have been killed in a 'car crash'.
He is bullied by them and his fat, spoilt cousin Dudley, and lives a
very unremarkable life with only the odd hiccup (like his hair growing
back overnight!) to cause him much to think about. That is until an owl
turns up with a letter addressed to Harry and all hell breaks loose! He
is literally rescued by a world where nothing is as it seems and magic
lessons are the order of the day. Read and find out how Harry discovers
his true heritage at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, the
reason behind his parents mysterious death, who is out to kill him, and
how he uncovers the most amazing secret of all time, the fabled
Philosopher's Stone! All this and muggles too. Now, what are they?
5. The Ickabog by J K Rowling
The Ickabog is coming… A mythical monster, a kingdom in peril, an
adventure that will test two children’s bravery to the limit. Discover a
brilliantly original fairy tale about the power of hope and friendship
to triumph against all odds, from one of the world’s best storytellers.
The
kingdom of Cornucopia was once the happiest in the world. It had plenty
of gold, a king with the finest moustaches you could possibly imagine,
and butchers, bakers and cheesemongers whose exquisite foods made a
person dance with delight when they ate them.
Everything
was perfect – except for the misty Marshlands to the north which,
according to legend, were home to the monstrous Ickabog. Anyone sensible
knew that the Ickabog was just a myth, to scare children into behaving.
But the funny thing about myths is that sometimes they take on a life
of their own.
Could a myth unseat a beloved
king? Could a myth bring a once happy country to its knees? Could a myth
thrust two children into an adventure they didn’t ask for and never
expected?
If you’re feeling brave, step into the pages of this book to find out…