‘The Absolutist’ by John Boyne. A sensitive and subtle portrayal of the complex bond that evolves between two soldiers in the trenches of WW1. Mr Frost
‘Pigeon English’ by Stuart Kelman The moving, funny and compelling story of 11 year-old Harrison Opoku who gradually becomes drawn into the dark and dangerous world of gang culture as a result of his quest to solve the murder of a local boy. This novel is a real page-turner that will have you on the edge of your seat… Mrs Earl
‘The Book of Human Skin’ by Michelle Lovric Witty, disturbing and Gothic with one of the best fictional villains around. I dare you not to love it! Miss Gordon
‘The Deadman’s Pedal’ by Alan Warner. During the summer holidays of 1973 sixteen year old Simon Crimmons tells his parents that instead of returning to school to study for his “A” levels he’s joined British Rail to train as an engine driver. They are not happy. Thus begins a wonderful story, set in the Scottish Highlands, packed with fantastic set piece descriptions, dialogue that is laugh-out-loud funny, action and no little romance. Mr Lakin
‘Trash’ by Andy Mulligan follows the story of three “dumpsite boys” make a living picking through the mountains of garbage on the outskirts of a large city. A real pager turner with an unexpected ending. Ms Ayliffe
Rousseau's 'Julie or the New Heloise.' In this epistolary novel, one of the world's great writers explores the psychological, moral and philosophical aspects of a romantic relationship, through his description of universal lovers living in the foothills of the Alps. Mr Bathie
‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins. Set in a distant future in a changed North America, this adventure book shows how the fight for survival of one becomes that of humanity. Miss Cooke
‘De Profundis’ by Oscar Wilde. Wilde is known for the glittering humour of his plays but this sadder, darker work touches me more deeply. In the late 1800s Wilde seemingly had everything – brilliance, wealth and adoration. However, they all turned to dust in 1895, when he was convicted of having relationships with men; Wilde was sentenced to two years’ hard labour in Reading Gaol. Written on prison notepaper, De Profundis (“from the depths”) is a letter which blends unflinching pride about “the love that dare not speak its name” with humility about his previous vanities. Its raw honesty about human feelings and fallibilities marks it out, for me, as one of the most humane books of all. Mr Coupar
‘Calvin and Hobbes’ by Bill Watterson. This is so much more than a cartoon strip. Calvin is a precocious six year old boy who spends his life avoiding his studies and waiting for snow. Hobbes is his sardonic stuffed tiger. The perfect antidote to pre exam stress and winter blues. Ms Foster
‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak. I enjoyed it because of its original narrative, told from the point of view of ‘Death’. I also loved the descriptive language, which transported me to a small German town during World War 2. Anyone learning German would enjoy it, as it uses snippets of colloquial German language as part of the general vocabulary. Ms Johnson
‘Cloud Atlas’ by David Mitchell - 6 points of view interconnected over centuries. If you stick with this novel it becomes utterly absorbing. Mrs Shaw
