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Maths Concierge 11+ Recommended Reading List

Louisa May Alcott

Little Women

Four sisters navigate growing up, ambition, and love during the American Civil War.

Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden

A hidden garden transforms the lives of three children and teaches them hope.

J.M. Barrie

Peter Pan

The boy who never grows up leads Wendy and her brothers on adventures in Neverland.

E. Nesbit

The Railway Children

Three siblings move to the countryside and discover the power of kindness and bravery.

Johanna Spyri

Heidi

A cheerful Swiss girl transforms her grandfather’s lonely life in the mountains.

Mark Twain

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Tom’s mischievous adventures capture the humour and excitement of childhood.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Treasure Island

A thrilling tale of pirates, courage, and hidden gold.

Anna Sewell

Black Beauty

The touching life story of a horse told through his own eyes.

Lewis Carroll

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

A whimsical journey through a world of nonsense and wonder.

Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol

Ebenezer Scrooge learns the true meaning of generosity and compassion.

Arthur Conan Doyle

The Lost World

An expedition to a mysterious plateau reveals living dinosaurs and danger.

C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Four children step through a wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia.

Philip Pullman

Northern Lights

A daring girl uncovers cosmic secrets in a world of dæmons and destiny.

J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter Series

The journey of a young wizard fighting darkness and discovering friendship.

Katherine Rundell

The Explorer

After a plane crash, four children must survive deep in the Amazon rainforest.

Michelle Paver

Wolf Brother

In prehistoric forests, a boy and a wolf face dark magic and courage tests.

Abi Elphinstone

Sky Song

A tale of icy kingdoms, bravery, and friendship in a frozen world.

Garth Nix

Sabriel

A young necromancer ventures beyond death to save her father and kingdom.

Eva Ibbotson

The Secret of Platform 13

A magical island hidden behind a railway platform inspires Rowling’s world.

Helena Duggan

A Place Called Perfect

A mysterious town where everyone behaves perfectly—perhaps too perfectly.

Sophie Anderson

The House with Chicken Legs

A moving reimagining of Slavic folklore about life, death, and belonging.

Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

A modern boy discovers he’s the son of a Greek god and faces heroic quests.

Michelle Magorian

Goodnight Mr Tom

Evacuated during WWII, a boy finds kindness and courage with a gentle old man.

Nina Bawden

Carrie’s War

Two children experience loss and loyalty while evacuated from wartime London.

Phil Earle

When the Sky Falls

Set in Blitz-era London, a boy must protect a dangerous silverback gorilla.

Michael Morpurgo

War Horse

The story of a horse and his boy through the trenches of the First World War.

Robert Westall

The Machine Gunners

Children collect war debris and uncover secrets of survival.

Anne Holm

I Am David

A gripping escape from a concentration camp becomes a search for identity.

Judith Kerr

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

A family flees Nazi Germany in this semi-autobiographical classic.

Lesley Parr

The Valley of Lost Secrets

Evacuees uncover hidden wartime mysteries in rural Wales.

Deborah Ellis

The Breadwinner

A brave Afghan girl disguises herself as a boy to support her family.

Berlie Doherty

Street Child

The inspiring tale of a Victorian orphan who escapes the workhouse.

Elizabeth Laird

A Little Piece of Ground

Set in Palestine, a boy’s struggle for freedom and dignity becomes life-changing.

Louis Sachar

Holes

A clever mystery unfolds in a desert camp where boys dig to “build character.”

Gillian Cross

The Great Elephant Chase

An adventure of bravery, friendship, and a runaway elephant.

Elise Broach

Shakespeare’s Secret

A modern mystery intertwining school life and Shakespearean intrigue.

R.J. Palacio

Wonder

A moving story of kindness and courage from a boy who looks different.

Anne Fine

Flour Babies

Students learn responsibility through caring for “babies” made of flour.

Clive King

Stig of the Dump

A boy befriends a caveman living in a chalk pit — an enduring classic.

Sophie Kirtley

The Wild Way Home

A boy time-travels to the Stone Age and discovers courage and friendship.

Helena Duggan

The Trouble with Perfect

A sequel mystery revealing hidden dangers behind a flawless town.

Gillian Rubinstein

Foxspell

A lonely boy begins turning into a fox — blurring reality and fantasy.

Jenny Nimmo

Midnight for Charlie Bone

A magical academy conceals dark family secrets and ancient powers.

Jacqueline Wilson

The Lottie Project

A modern girl compares her life with that of a Victorian servant she’s researching.

Michael Rosen

A World of Poetry

Funny, thoughtful poems exploring childhood and imagination.

Benjamin Zephaniah

Talking Turkeys

Energetic and rebellious poetry with rhythm and wit.

James Berry

Classic Poems to Read Aloud

A joyful collection encouraging children to love language and sound.

Carol Ann Duffy

New and Collected Poems for Children

Vivid, funny, and imaginative poems that stretch young minds.

Ted Hughes

How the Whale Became

Mythic tales explaining animals with power and wonder.

Roger McGough

Collected Poems

Playful, surprising poetry that invites laughter and reflection.

Kaye Webb (Ed.)

I Like This Poem

A timeless anthology chosen by children themselves.

Allan Ahlberg

Heard It in the Playground

Funny schoolyard poems packed with rhythm and energy.

Gerard Benson

This Poem Doesn’t Rhyme

A lively mix of voices proving poetry can surprise everyone.

Various Authors

Kingfisher Book of Verse

Classic and modern poems celebrating imagination across time.

John Agard

The Rainmaker Danced

Humorous and powerful poems filled with rhythm and energy.