Teddington School English Department

Key Stage Three - Suggested Further Reading List

At Teddington School we believe that reading is vitally important to your development in English. The
children who read often always improve their levels in all 3 assessment areas (reading, writing and
speaking and listening). It is suggested that you read at least one novel every half term and that you
alternate between modern and classic fiction.

Here are a number of titles that will help you improve your grammar, vocabulary and imagination, as well
as provide you with an enjoyable and entertaining read.

As with any book, read the blurb and opening few chapters before making a judgement on whether you
enjoy it. If you’re not enjoying often it’s because you’re finding it challenging; this is a good thing as it’s
helping you improve. If none of these titles appeal to you or, even better you’ve read all of them, speak to
your English teacher and/or Mrs. Bide for advice

Classic Texts
Defoe, D. Robinson Crusoe
Dickens, C. The Christmas Stories
Dickens, C. Oliver Twist
Dumas, A. The Three Musketeers
Macdonald, G. The Princess and the Goblin
Norton, M. The Borrowers
Pearce, P. Tom’s Midnight Garden
Stevenson, R.L. Treasure Island
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit
Twain, M. Tom Sawyer
Verne, J. Around the World in Eighty Days

Once you’ve read these simpler novels by these great authors you may like to try other,
even more challenging classics by the same writers.

Austen, J. Pride & Prejudice ; Sense & Sensibility

Bronte, E. Wuthering Heights
Bronte, C. Jane Eyre
Dickens, C. Great Expectations
Dumas, A. The Count Of Monte Cristo
Stevenson, R.L. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Verne, J. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Modern Texts
Adams, D. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy YA
Ballard, G. Empire of the Sun YA
Blackman, M. Pig Heart Boy , Noughts and Crosses
Blume, J. Blubber 
Breslin, T. Divided City YA
Cottrell Boyce, F. Framed 
Cassidy, A. Looking For JJ ©
Craig, J. Jimmy Coates: Killer
Creech, S. Love That Dog ©
Doherty, B. Dear Nobody ; Granny Was A Buffer Girl YA
Donnelly, J. A Gathering Light YA
KS3 Reading List – Modern Texts – cont’d
Dowd, S. Bog Child
Durrell, G. My Family and Other Animals
Fine, A. A Tulip Touch ©
Forde, C. Fat Boy Swim
Frank, A The Diary of Anne Frank
Gantos, J. Joey Pigza Swallowed A Key 
Gardner, G. Inventing Elliot ©
Gardner, S. The Red Necklace
Gavin, J Coram Boy YA
Gibbons, A. The Dark Beneath ; The Edge; YA
Goldman, W. The Princess Bride
Haddon, M. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time ©
Hearn, L. Across The Nightingale Floor YA
Horowitz, A. Scorpia and others in the series YA
Laird, E. The Garbage King YA
Lawrence, L. Children of the Dust YA
Lewis, CS The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Lively, P The Ghost of Thomas Kemp 
Johnson, P. The Protectors ; Faking It 
MacPhail, C. Run, Zan, Run
Mah, Adeline Yen Chinese Cinderella
McCaughrean, G. Stop the Train ©
Morpurgo, M. Kensuke’s Kingdom ; Private Peaceful
Muchamore, R. The Recruit etc
Ness, P The Knife of Never Letting Go; The Ask and the Answer YA
Newberry, L. Sisterland ; Blitz Boys ; A Gathering Light YA
Nicholson, W. The Windsinger
Nimmo, J. The Time Twister 
Orwell, G. Animal Farm YA
Paver, M Wolf Brother ©
Peet, M Tamar
Pratchett, T. Only You Can Save Mankind ; The Colour of Magic; Amazing Maurice YA
Pullman, P. His Dark Materials Trilogy ©
Rai, Bali Rani and Sukh YA
Reeve, P Arthur; Fevercrumb
Sachar, L. Marvin Redpost 
Singer Feather Boy
Snicket, L. A Series Of Unfortunate Events Series 
Stroud, J. Golem’s Eye YA
Swindells, R. Stonecold ©
Taylor, G.P. The Shadowmancer YA
Townsend, Sue The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole
Updale, E. Montmorency 
Woolff, V.E. Make Lemonade
Zusak, M. The Book Thief YA

KEY :
 = Children’s book; © = Content Caution ; YA = Young Adult