Suggested books for Year 9 and Year 10 students

[RedskyAtnight]

I've said to my Y9 DD that if she has spare time at the moment she should consider spending it by reading more widely (which tbh is what her English teachers have been saying all year). Can anyone suggest books that I could point her at (thinking of both ones to support GCSE English as well as more lighter/fun reading!)?

Hi OP.

At that age , I'd recommend as 'classics' Animal Farm, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Chrysalids, Lord of the Flies. My DS loved Of Mice and Men in year 9 but I think that is best left for school as the language and issues are quite tough and need adult filtering.

It depends on how proficient a reader she is and how 'grown up'. A lot of YA novels are a bit fruity on the sex and violence front.

The Gifted, The Talented and Me is a great accessible book. Witch Child is also very good as is Coram Boy.

Hope that helps!

English teacher here. I'd recommend the 'Unwind' series by Neal Shusterman and 'Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend' by Matthew Dicks - both great reads with original concepts and free of anything too adult 👍🏻

Definitely have a go with at least one 19th Century text as GCSE prep: Jane Eyre or Frankenstein, or some Sherlock Holmes shorts for something a touch easier to get through.