"Good to use with `14 - 16 year olds disengaged from reading (although might require consent from parents / carers due to mild love scenes). There is a film version which can be used as a motivational tool. Themes covered include race relations, romance, family pressures and peer pressure."
"A powerful short fable focused on two children's experiences of the Holocaust. Good to use with 12 - 14 year olds. There is a film version which can be used as a motivational tool. Themes covered include racism, differing perspectives and questions over how people are lead into committing evil acts."
"A moving, accessible collection of factual stories from children who survived the Holocaust. The stories vary in length and can be used to encourage empathy."
"A dark story written from the perspective of a homeless teenager and a serial killer preying on the homeless. Good to read with 14 - 15 year olds who are disengaged from reading. The story was apparently made into a film / television series by the BBC but I have struggled to get a copy. The story covers themes including family break-up, homelessness, youth unemployment and prejudice."
"A fun story commonly used with 12 - 13 year olds. The story has a complicated plot spanning across three timezones and is full of mysteries that get students hooked. Disney turned the story into a film, which more or less follows the book version and can be used as a motivational tool. Themes covered include racism (based around American segregation), punishment and fate."
"Kes / A Kestrel for a Knave is a classic that I am constantly surprised by the way it engages disaffected students (aged 14 - 18). I've recommend the play over the book (although ideally it would be good to dip into the book as well). The story was made into a famous film which although seems dated, also hooks in students and can be used as a motivational tool."
"This book is often set in schools as a class reader for 11 - 12 year olds. However, the language is not that accessible for students with reading difficulties at this age so I tend to use it with 12 - 14 year olds. The story was made into a really engaging film by Danny Boyle and can be used as a motivational tool. The main theme covered is loss of a loved one / grief."
"I have used this with 14 - 16 year olds. It is slow and less accessible in places (so might need using as extracts) but the overall story is powerful and provocative. Themes covered include war, loss of loved ones, how humans sometimes react in crisis and democracy. Good films to use with it is 'Threads' and 'When The Window Blows.'"
"This is a wonderful story blending angels, evolution and a family crisis. I have found it engages students aged 12 - 14 without fail. The story has been turned into a film which stays pretty much true to the story. I would go as far as to say this book is the highlight of this list."
"This is a classic which I use primarily with students aged 11 - 12. It is great for teaching character perspectives. There is a BBC television series based on the book which students love, although it doesn't follow the book exactly."
