Eighteen Enticing Books for Year 8 - Croydon High School

Eighteen Enticing Books
                                  for Year 8

*Bone Talk – Candy Gourlay
Set in the Philippines 100 years ago, a coming-of-age story of a young boy and girl struggling to
find their identity and place in society; a story of invaders motivated by greed and power and a
microcosmic look at some of the devastating effects of colonialism

Boy at the Top of the Mountain, The – John Boyne
It is 1936. Seven-year-old Pierrot Fischer is sent live with his aunt in the Berghof, a mysterious
house at the top of the mountains in the Bavarian Alps. A disturbing novel about loss of
innocence, corruption and regret, and a reminder of a dark period of European history.

*Chinese Cinderella – Adeline Yen Mah
Adeline Mah, born Jun-ling Yen Mah, writes the moving story of her childhood years from ages
4 to 14. She was born in Tianjin in China in 1937 and spent her childhood in Shanghai and
later in Hong Kong.

*Diver’s Daughter – a Tudor Story
A thrilling adventure based on a true story, Lawrence explores the life of a young West
African girl, Eve, living with her mother in the slums of Elizabethan London.

*I have No Secrets – Penny Joelson
14-year-old Jemma is a bright, inquisitive and feisty young woman. She is confined to a
wheelchair, unable to communicate She learns a terrible secret about her carer’s boyfriend.
The novel that is both a thriller and a tale of detection.

*Jasmine Skies – Sita Brahmachari
14-year-old Mira is thrilled to be traveling to India to meet her family. She comes across an
exotic new world as well as some deeply buried family secrets.

*Jessica’s Ghost – Andrew Norris
Three unlikely teens are thrown together. Francis loves sewing –a passion he keeps hidden
from the kids at the local comprehensive school. Andi, the new girl, is ‘thuggish’ and brusque,
never going to win any popularity contests. Overweight Roland refuses to go to school. Their
lives change when they meet Jessica’s ghost …A powerful novel which celebrates Difference.

*Lampie – Annet Schaap
Lampie, daughter of a lighthouse keeper, has an important job: to climb the 61 steps daily to
light the lamp. One day she fails in her task, with dire consequences. This is a fantastical
adventure about love, forgiveness, freedom and the right to be oneself.

No Ballet Shoes in Syria – Catherine Bruton
Eleven-year-old Aya has just arrived in the UK with her mother and baby brother, seeking
asylum from war in Syria. A dance teacher believes that Aya is talented enough to win a ballet
scholarship, but Aya has to surmount some major obstacles. A hopeful story which champions
the rights of refugees.

*Noughts and Crosses – Malorie Blackman
A powerful novel which focuses on racism: the Noughts (or ‘blankers’) are the white skinned
victims of oppression while the ‘Crosses’ are the dark skinned oppressors. What happens
when Callum, a Nought, falls in love with Sephy, a Cross? A tale of ‘star crossed lovers’,
judgment, revenge and forgiveness

*Orphan, Monster, Spy – Matt Killeen
A World War 2 drama in which a Jewish orphan-turned-spy is given a mission; to infiltrate an
elite Nazi boarding school.

*Rebound – Kwame Alexander
A vibrant free-verse coming-of-age story of a boy named Charlie who is sent to stay with his
grandparents after he gets into trouble at school. His cousin introduces him to basketball; he
becomes an instant star. But then life ‘happens’ and Charlie has to cope with the unexpected.

*Salt to the Sea – Ruta Sepetys
The Wilhelm Gustloff was a German cruise ship converted into an armed hospital ship; Septys
tells the story of four young people from different countries in Europe, who, on 30 January
1945, were caught up in the greatest maritime disaster in history.

*See You at Harry’s – Jo Knowles
A story of an imperfect but loving family. Twelve-year-old Fern, the third child of four, feels
‘invisible’; her sister is taking a gap year, her brother is coming to terms with his sexuality and
her youngest sibling demands all the attention. A novel of love, loss and hope.

Skylarks’ War, The – Hilary McKay
Set against the backdrop of the first World War, this is the story
of Clary and her brother who spend idyllic summers with their
grandparents and cousin in Cornwall until the world changes
forever. A delightful novel.

*Weight of Water, The – Sarah Crossan
A moving story of a young Polish girl, Kasienka, who has moved
to England with her mother, in search of her father. An
unsentimental coming-of-age story; written in verse, it packs a
powerful punch.

*Where the World Ends – Geraldine
McCaughrean
In 1727, Quill, 8 other boys and 3 men, board a boat to a large
outcrop of rock off the archipelago of St Kilda. Their mission is to
harvest valuable bird meat and eggs. Things fall apart when they
realise that they have been abandoned. A thrilling adventure based
on a real-life incident.

*Wolf Wilder – Katherine Rundell
Set in tsarist Russia just before the 1917 revolution, Rundell tells the story of Feodora, a ‘wolf
wilder’, who teaches the wolves that were once pets of the St Petersburg elite to be true
wolves again. Part fairy tale and part adventure story, this is a seductive tale.

* The starred books are available as E-BOOKS via the Croydon High Dashboard:
     LRC VLE BOOKS
     Wait to be re-directed to the GDST Log-In.
     Search by Author or Title (Omit apostrophes in your search).
     Click on ‘Full Details’.
     Read Online (this is preferable to Downloading); you many change page layout, font size,
      background colours).