Independent Readers Picks
Looking for somewhere to start with a child who is ready to move on from first chapter books to something more advanced? We've got you covered with these recommendations from our staff!
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Book 1)
Author: Rick Riordan
Look, I never asked to be the son of a Greek god. I was just a normal kid. . . until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher.
Percy Jackson is having a bad week. His life has gone from totally normal to monsters-from-Greek-mythology-randomly-appearing kind of strange. Worse still, the king of the gods thinks Percy has stolen his all-powerful lightning bolt - and it seems making Zeus angry is a very bad idea. Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to catch the true lightning thief and stop all-out war from erupting on Mount Olympus... What could possibly go wrong?
Percy Jackson is a modern classic for a reason: it's the entry point to Greek mythology for a lot of children, it's inclusive and diverse, it teaches neurodiverse children that their differences are not weaknesses, and (of course) it's absolutely excellent! Start here, and before long you'll be working your way through the many books in the series! Just...maybe don't bother with the two films from the 2010s!
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Impossible Creatures : INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
Author: Katherine Rundell
There’s a place where all the wildest stories began…
A boy called Christopher is visiting his reclusive grandfather when he witnesses an avalanche of mythical creatures come tearing down the hill. This is how Christopher learns that his grandfather is the guardian of one of the ways between the non-magical world and a place called the Archipelago, a cluster of magical islands where all the creatures we tell of in myth live and breed and thrive alongside humans. They have been protected from being discovered for thousands of years; now, terrifyingly, the protection has worn thin, and creatures are breaking through.
Then a girl, Mal, appears in Christopher's world. She is in possession of a flying coat, is being pursued by a killer and is herself in pursuit of a baby griffin. Mal, Christopher and the griffin embark on an urgent quest across the wild splendour of the Archipelago, where sphinxes hold secrets and centaurs do murder, to find the truth – with unimaginable consequences for both their worlds. Together the two must face the problem of power, and of knowledge, and of what love demands of us.
Impossible Creatures has been a huge hit since its release in 2023, and it absolutely deserves the praise it gets! It's a fantastical ride, full of magical creatures and wonder, but also brimming with unforgettable characters and emotional moments. If you've skipped this until now, don't keep putting it off!
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Skandar and the Unicorn Thief : The international, award-winning hit, and the biggest fantasy adventure series since Harry Potter : 1
Author: A.F. Steadman
Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider. To be one of the lucky few selected to hatch a unicorn. To bond with it for life; to train together and race for glory; to be a hero. But just as Skandar’s dream is about to come true, things start to take a more dangerous turn than he could ever have imagined. A dark and twisted enemy has stolen the Island’s most powerful unicorn – and as the threat grows ever closer, Skandar discovers a secret that could blow apart his world forever...
Get ready for unlikely HEROES, elemental MAGIC, sky battles, ancient secrets, nail-biting races and FEROCIOUS UNICORNS, in this EPIC ADVENTURE series that will have your heart soaring.
The Skandar series quickly became hugely popular, and it's easy to see why! It's a perfect bridging series for readers who aren't quite ready for Young Adult titles but want something more grown up than they've been reading. There's action, adventure, friendship, and unicorns as you've never seen them before!
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Murder Most Unladylike
Author: 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?
This is the first in a fantastic series of murder mysteries, with a wide variety of settings. So if you enjoy the first outing of the Detective Society, you'll definitely want to check out the rest! We love this series, and we think you will too!
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Twitch
Author: M.G. Leonard
Twitch has three pet chickens, four pigeons, swallows nesting in his bedroom and a passion for birdwatching. On the first day of the summer holidays, he arrives at his secret hide to find police everywhere: a convicted robber has broken out of prison and is hiding in Aves Wood. Can Twitch use his talents for birdwatching to hunt for the dangerous prisoner and find the missing loot?
Twitch is the perfect mystery for kids who just love the natural world! Full of twists and turns, but also messages of friendship and being yourself, the Twitchers series is just lovely. So if you want a mystery with a natural twist, definitely check this one out!
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The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found
Author: Jordan Lees
A boy who doesn't believe in magic. An impossible world that will change his mind.
Eleven-year-old Benjamiah Creek believes in science, logic and the power of reason. He definitely does not believe in magic. But when he receives a mysterious gift in the post - a doll that can transform into a bird - he is led into the impossible (and most definitely magical) world of Wreathenwold, where dark secrets are lost amongst a vast labyrinth of streets. Benjamiah soon finds himself swept along in a dangerous quest - led by the fierce and brilliant Elizabella, who is determined to solve the disappearance of her missing brother. Will Benjamiah ever find his way home and discover his puzzling connection with this strange, enchanted world?
The Whisperwicks is a brilliant portal fantasy adventure, with whimsy and magic aplenty and a healthy sprinkle of creepiness! This one should be perfect for any fans of Skandar, Percy Jackson, or Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials.
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InvestiGators
Author: John Patrick Green
Mango and Brash are alligators – who investigate! In their first adventure the crime fighting duo need to go undercover...in a bakery? Armed with a moustache and a rolling pin, the InvestiGators are on a mission to discover who has kidnapped top chef Gustavo, and stop his recipes from getting into the wrong hands! This case isn’t going to be a piece of cake.
The InvestiGators series is a hit with readers of all ages and covers positive themes including teamwork, friendship, and problem–solving! If this one goes down well, there's plenty more where that came from!
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Bridget Vanderpuff and the Baked Escape
Author: Martin Stewart
The first in a madcap, hilarious series about Bridget Vanderpuff, whipsmart inventor and amateur sleuth with a taste for adventure. It's a recipe for fun with mystery, villainy, cake and sprinkles of silliness, heart and hope.
Bridget Baxter is the very last orphan at the Orphanage for Errant Childs, left at the mercy of the awful Miss Acrid and her foul-smelling fish sandwiches. Miss Acrid's mission is to make Bridget's life a misery. But Bridget is more than a match for her. When kindly Mr Vanderpuff arrives at the Orphanage in search of a child to care for, Bridget thinks her luck has finally turned. Mr Vanderpuff is the village baker, and his shop is a world of wonders. But they soon discover that Bridget is absolutely terrible at baking. When Miss Acrid returns for the ultimate revenge, Bridget must open the Locked and Secret Door, navigate Miss Acrid's spiderweb of booby traps and use her unique baking skills to save herself – and Mr Vanderpuff – from certain disaster. Join Bridget as she dons her chef whites and gets the kwassongs at the ready... Baking isn't such a piece of cake.
The Bridget Vanderpuff series is just an absolute delight! They're fun, hopeful, adventurous, and full of delicious baked goods!
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