Reading Scheme – Year 8
The books we’ll cover in class
All pupils in Year 8 will be lent one of the books below each half term to read. Please support your child with the use of our family resources which will be sent to you at the start of each half term.
| Title | Summary/ Themes |
| Patina by Jason Reynolds | A coming-of-age novel about an elite runner, Patina, who struggles to cope with new found responsibility after her mother becomes unwell. Themes: sport, family, friendship, coming-of-age, illness, school |
| When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle | Historical fiction set during WWII about a boy sent to live in London who forms a remarkable friendship with a silverback gorilla at a rundown zoo. Themes: historical, war, animals, coming-of-age |
| Girl, Missing by Sophie Mackenzie | Thriller about a girl who discovers she was kidnapped as a baby and goes on an adventure to find her biological parents. Themes: family, adoption, kidnap, friendship, romance |
| Smart by Kim Slater | Murder mystery about a boy who finds the body of a homeless man and makes it his mission to solve the crime. Themes: murder, domestic violence, autism, homelessness |
| The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo | A story about Nigerian refugees who leave their life in Nigeria and travel to England for safety. Themes: refugees and asylum seekers, displacement, political oppression |
| After Tomorrow by Gillian Cross | A dystopian novel about a financial crisis in England which leads two children to travel to France for safety. Themes: hope, family, friendship, refugees, refugee camps |