Summer Reading Challenge - Year 9
We are delighted to invite you to join in our Year 9 Summer Reading Challenge. Our School Librarian has compiled a list of some suggested books you might like to read over the summer holidays. This is not compulsory and will not be marked, it is just a bit of fun to keep you occupied over the summer.
Please take a picture of yourself with the books that you read from the list below and bring these with you on your first visit to the library.
Our Librarian, Miss Rose will then enter you in to a free prize draw to win Amazon vouchers.
Have fun and good luck!
ADVENTURE
“The Haven” by Simon Lelic
“Robin Hood: Hacking, Heists and Flaming Arrows” by Robert Muchamore
“Murder Most Unladylike” by Robin Stevens
FANTASY
“Orion Lost” by Alistair Chisholm
“Our Sister Again” by Sophie Cameron
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and Jack Thorne
HISTORICAL
“Armistice Runner” by Tom Palmer
“Eagle of the Ninth”
“Eliza Rose” by Lucy Worsley
REAL LIFE
“Rebound” by Kwame Alexander
“The Switch Up” by Katy Cannon
“Welcome to Nowhere” by Elizabeth Laird
SHORT BOOKS
“Home Ground” by Alan Gibbons
“The Disconnect” by Karen David
“Still Water” by Chris Priestly
NON FICTION
“Everything all at once” by Steven Camden
“Diary of a Young Naturalist” by Dara McAnulty
“Ask an Astronaut” by Tim Peake
Summer Reading Challenge
ADVENTURE
“The Haven” by Simon Lelic Alone, on the run, Ollie Turner has nowhere to hide, but he gets a second chance. Underneath the city there’s a secret organisation, far from adult eyes. It’s called The Haven. Soon Ollie is caught up in their battle to stop Maddy Sikes destroying the city. Time is running out for Ollie and his new friends, and millions of lives are at stake. An exciting adventure story with lots of twists and turns.
“Robin Hood: Hacking, Heists and Flaming Arrows” by Robert Muchamore
A town. A forest. A hero. You can’t go far without a quick brain and some rule-bending in a place like Locksley. After its vast car plants shut down, the prosperous town has become a wasteland of empty homes, toxic land and families on the brink. And it doesn’t help that the authorities are in the clutches of the profit-obsessed Sheriff of Nottingham, in cahoots with underworld boss Guy Gisborne. When his dad is framed for a robbery, Robin and his brother Little John are hounded out of Locksley and must learn to survive in the Sherwood forest But Robin is determined to do more than survive. Small, fast and deadly with a bow, he hatches a plan to join forces with Marion Maid, harness his inimitable tech skills and strike a blow against Gisborne and the Sheriff. A great, modern, twist on an old story.
“Murder Most Unladylike” by Robin Stevens
When Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set up their very own secret detective agency at Deepdean School for Girls, they struggle to find any truly exciting mysteries to investigate. (Unless you count the case of Lavinia’s missing tie. Which they don’t.) Then Hazel discovers the Science Mistress, Miss Bell, lying dead in the gym. She assumes it was a terrible accident, but when she and Daisy return five minutes later, the body has disappeared. Now Hazel and Daisy not only have a murder to solve: they have to prove one happened in the first place. Determined to get to the bottom of the crime before the killer strikes again (and before the police can get there first, naturally), Hazel and Daisy must hunt for evidence, spy on their suspects and use all the cunning and intuition they can muster. But will they succeed? And can their friendship stand the test?
FANTASY
“Orion Lost” by Alistair Chisholm
The transport ship Orion is four months away from Earth when catastrophe strikes leaving the ship and everyone on board stranded in deep space. Suddenly it's up to thirteen-year-old Beth and her friends to navigate through treacherous and uncharted territory to reach safety. But a heavily-damaged ship, space pirates, a mysterious alien species and an artificial intelligence that Beth doesn't know if she can trust means that getting home has never been so difficult. This is an action packed story with lots of twists and turns.
“Our Sister Again” by Sophie Cameron
On a small island off the Scottish coast, Isla and her family are grieving the loss of her older sister Flora, who died three years ago. Then they’re offered the chance to be part of a top-secret trial, which revives loved ones as fully lifelike AI robots using their digital footprint. Isla has her doubts about Second Chances, but they evaporate the moment the ‘new’ Flora arrives. This girl is not some uncanny close likeness; she is Flora – a perfect replica. But not everyone on their island feels the same. And as the threats to Flora mount, she grows distant and more secretive. Will Isla be able to protect the new Flora and bring the community back together? An intriguing, thoughtful and poignant book about what makes us human.
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three schoolage children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.” Read something different, read a playscript.
HISTORICAL
“Armistice Runner” by Tom Palmer
Lily has lots of worries. She’s struggling to compete in her fell-running races and, worse, she’s losing her gran to Alzheimer’s. But then she discovers her great-greatgrandfather’s diaries from the First World War. Could his incredible story of bravery help her reconnect with her gran and even give her the inspiration she needs to push through and win?
“Eagle of the Ninth” by Rosemary Sutcliff
The Ninth Roman Legion marched into the mists of northern Britain, and they were never seen again. Four thousand men disappeared and their eagle standard was lost. It’s a mystery that’s never been solved. Marcus has to find out what happened to his father, who led the legion. So he sets out into the unknown, on a quest so dangerous that nobody expects him to return.
“Eliza Rose” by Lucy Worsley
Eliza Rose Camperdowne is young and headstrong, but she knows her duty well. As the only daughter of a noble family, she must one day marry a man who is very grand and very rich. But fate has other plans. When Eliza becomes a maid of honour, she’s drawn into the thrilling, treacherous court of Henry the Eighth. Is her glamorous cousin Katherine Howard a friend or a rival? And can a girl choose her own destiny in a world ruled by men?
REAL LIFE
“Rebound” by Kwame Alexander
Charlie Bell is still mourning his father, and struggling to figure out how he feels for his best (girl) friend, CJ. When he gets into trouble one too many times, he’s packed off to stay with his grandparents for the summer There his cousin Roxie introduces him to a whole new world: basketball. A legend on the courts is born. But can Charlie resist when trouble comes knocking once again? A novel written in verse.
“The Switch Up” by Katy Cannon
Willa: drama queen, fashion guru, spontaneous, looks like Alice. Alice: bookworm, allergic to fashion, planner, looks like Willa. LAX Departure Lounge. Two girls board the same flight to London as complete strangers. When the plane touches down, it’s the beginning of the craziest plan ever. Can Willa and Alice really swap lives for the summer?
“Welcome to Nowhere” by Elizabeth Laird
Omar and his brothers and sisters were born and raised in the beautiful and bustling city of Bosra, Syria. Omar doesn’t care about politics; all he wants is to grow up to become a successful businessman who will take the world by storm. But when his clever older brother, Musa, gets mixed up with some young political activists, everything changes. Before long, bombs are falling, people are dying, and Omar and his family have no choice but to flee their home with only what they can carry. Yet no matter how far they run, the shadow of war follows them - until they have no other choice than to attempt the dangerous journey to escape their homeland altogether. But where do you go when you can’t go home?
SHORT BOOKS
“Home Ground” by Alan Gibbons
Sam’s team are edging closer to the bottom of the league this season and team captain Jordan’s bad attitude isn’t helping anyone. When Sam spots Hasan playing on the refugee team, he can see that Hasan’s got talent and invites him along to practice. Hasan and his friend Faisal prove to be exactly what the team need - but Jordan’s not going to accept his new teammates so easily. Can Sam get the boys to pull together and win?
“The Disconnect” by Karen David
Could you disconnect from your phone for six weeks? An entrepreneur has challenged Esther's year group to do just that, and the winners will walk away with £1000. For Esther, whose dad, sister and baby nephew live thousands of miles away in New York, the prize might be her only chance to afford flights for a visit But can she really stay disconnected for long enough to win? A thought provoking book.
“Still Water” by Chris Priestly
Evacuated from London at the outbreak of war, Rosie is taken in by kind Mrs Taylor and her daughter Mary. But all is not as it seems. Mary resents and bullies Rosie, and Mrs Taylor is hiding a dark secret. When Rosie comes across a strange girl swimming in a local pond, she hopes they will become friends. But instead her appearance leads to a horrifying revelation that will have terrifying consequences. A spooky book.
NON FICTION
“Everything all at once” by Steven Camden
A collection of poems about one week in a secondary school where everything happens all at once. Zooming in across our cast of characters, we share moments that span everything from hoping to make it to the end of the week, facing it, fitting in, finding friends and falling out, to loving lessons, losing it, and worrying, wearing it well and worshipping from afar.
“Diary of a young Naturalist” by Dara McAnulty
This book recounts a year in the life of an autistic and highly gifted 15 year old. The book moves through the seasons and covers Dara moving house and starting a new school while pursuing his life as a conservationist and environmental activist. Dara recalls his sensory encounters in the wild - with blackbirds, whooper swans, red kites, hen harriers, frogs, dandelions, Irish hares and more. A must read for anyone who loves nature.
“Ask an Astronaut” by Tim Peake
This is Tim Peake’s personal guide to life in space, based on his historic Principia mission, and the thousands of questions he has been asked since his return to Earth. From training to launch, historic spacewalk to re-entry, Tim has an answer to everything you ever wanted to know.
