Book/s about transitioning to secondary school

[AiryFairy1]

Looking for recommendations for books I can read to/ with my DD about big changes.

She starts Y7 in September and is Freaking Out. She’s extremely change averse and has some suspected ASD traits.

Books can be about starting / preparing for secondary school, but could also be about a character/s encountering and overcoming a big challenge.

For eg we recently read The Secret Garden which tenuously fits the brief.

Not sure the school books like Malley Towers would work, but happy to stand corrected. (I read MT before going to boarding school and the reality was VERY different to the mugs of cocoa in the common room that I was expecting 😅)

She’s a bundle of nerves and is Very touchy with everyone, including her wonderful teacher (who is like their life coach atm, bless her)

My daughter has some anxiety issues and she has been referred to support services through school for some counselling type sessions - they are specifically doing sessions on the transition to secondary. Is that a possibility?

If you are looking for fiction stuff the the secret diary of Lottie Brooks is lovely. (By the hurrah for gin author) my DD is also very anxious about starting and she found this book a humorous reassurance.

@Newnormal99 yes, she’s getting a lot of support from her teacher, and as she’s recently had an Ed psych assessment, the EP has said she has some Thing to help. They’re creating a Transition Book type thing, and she may be doing some visits to the new school in the summer, etc. Good luck to your DD x

@ElvenDreamer that’s exactly the type of book I was thinking of! I’ll pop that in her stocking for starters! Love Hurrah for Gin/Katie Kirby!

Thanks both for replying!

The amazing Edie Eckhart
You must be Layla
Sweetness and lies by Karen McCombie
Alice & Megan forever
Friendships and backflips
Turning to Jelly by Candy Guard
The Mystery of Wickworth Manor

Can You See me? by Libby Scott, which is about an autistic girl's experiences in Year 7 rather than the transitioning itself. I would read it first though, before giving it to your daughter, as she may find it puts her off secondary school.

@Leeds2 thanks for this recommendation. I've read the reviews on Amazon and will def have a read x

@Leeds2 just wanted to say I really enjoyed Can you see me? Made me smile, laugh and cry in various parts. Not sure it’s right for DD but it definitely given me some insight on what to look out for next year and work on maintaining a good connection with her so she feels she can/will still share worries/concerns - year 7 sounds like a minefield 😞

Definitely steer clear of Malory Towers. They’re all so horrible to each other (children and teachers).
I was also going to suggest Libby Scott’s books, but also Go Big - A Survivor’s Guide to Secondary School by Matthew Bruton, which my daughter found really useful for calming the nerves and helping to imagine what it would be like in such a big and different school. There were no visits or transition days due to Covid, so it was very much in at the deep end for her and her friends and that book helped her be prepared for a lot of the differences that it wouldn’t necessarily occur to an adult to mention.

Sorry not a book but my DD (now in Year 7) loved watching the CBBC show Our School. It followed various Year 7 children on their journey as they start secondary. There are various series available which all feature a different school.

[quote AiryFairy1]@Leeds2 just wanted to say I really enjoyed Can you see me? Made me smile, laugh and cry in various parts. Not sure it’s right for DD but it definitely given me some insight on what to look out for next year and work on maintaining a good connection with her so she feels she can/will still share worries/concerns - year 7 sounds like a minefield 😞[/quote]
I'm glad you enjoyed the book, AiryFairy1.. I did too, and I hope it is useful to you in helping your DD to transition to high school. Also glad that you read it first - I thought it might be a bit too much for a child who is already nervous about changing schools.