Recommended Reading

At The Colne, our aim is to build a reading for pleasure culture. We want students to see the joy and benefits of reading for pleasure that sometimes can be overshadowed by other hobbies, such as online gaming or social media. Research suggests that reading for pleasure improves reading fluency, creativity, self-confidence, empathy and academic achievements.

Here you will find recommended reading lists for key stages, interests, and teacher recommendations. Browse at your leisure and find the perfect book for your child.

Note to parents: Many of these books are written for young adult readers (13+) or adults; this means there may be ‘gritty’ content. Generally by Key Stage 4 young people are ready for this, but parents know their children best; if you have queries about suitability, please check online reviews or ask your child’s teacher or Miss Reuben (Literacy and Reading Coordinator).

Some good book review websites are below:

Common Sense Media

Good Reads

Love Reading

You may be able to find audio-book versions of these. See some recommended audio-book websites below:

BBC Sounds audio-books

Audible (requires a subscription for £7.99 a month)

Podtail (may require a subscription; FAQ here)

Youtube (search '[book title] audio-book' or '[book title] listen' to start your search)