Artificial Intelligence & Human Values

The Alignment Problem

By Brian Christian

With Leo Wilkin

How can Artificial Intelligence learn human values? With insights from the very people that created these AI systems, learn about the history of ethics in neural networks, and what our future looks like.

Ancient Conflict and Modern Lens

The Silence of the Girls

By Pat Barker

With Ms Cowap

The Silence of the Girls tells the gripping story of the Trojan War from the perspective of Briseis, a captured queen turned slave, giving voice to the women silenced in the myths. It's a powerful, eye-opening take on ancient heroes—and the people history forgets.

Comic Science Fiction

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

By Douglas Adams

With Mr Wragg

What if Earth was demolished to make way for a galactic motorway? That’s just the start of the mayhem in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy—a fast, funny sci-fi romp packed with clueless aliens, talking doors, depressed robots, and truly terrible poetry. Follow Arthur Dent, an ordinary man catapulted into an absurd universe, as he searches for the meaning of life… only to find the answer is 42. Perfect for fans of quirky humour, oddball science, and life’s biggest questions.

Coming-of-Age

The Outsiders

By S E Hinton

With Mr Rea

Are you interested in stories that explore loyalty, identity, and the struggles of growing up? This powerful and gripping novel follows a group of teenagers on the margins of society, caught between harsh realities and their need to belong. It tackles themes of class conflict, friendship, and resilience in a world that often seems stacked against them.

Dystopia

Insurgent

By Veronica Roth

With Miss Cox

If you enjoy fast-paced stories filled with danger, rebellion, and difficult choices, this gripping sequel to Divergent plunges you deeper into a divided society on the brink of collapse. As tensions rise between factions, a brave young heroine must navigate shifting loyalties, hidden truths, and the weight of her past. No need to have read Divergent to sign up.

Economics

Why We’re Getting Poorer: A Realist’s Guide to the Economy and How We Can Fix It

By Cahal Moran

With Mr Whitworth & Mrs Campion

Are you curious how the economy really works, this book explains why housing is so expensive, why wages feel stuck, and why the cost of living keeps rising. Moran argues that these problems aren't inevitable, in next term's Fireside talk he will be discussing the ideas in his book and explore what a fairer economic future could look like.

Environmental Science

Gaia: A new look at life on Earth

By James Lovelock

With Millie MacLeod

Are you fascinated by science, nature, or the environment? This book invites readers to rethink humanity’s relationship with nature and consider our role in protecting the delicate balance of life on Earth.

Explaining Humans

Explaining Humans

By Camilla Pang

With Mrs Biggs

This book explores how science can help us understand everyday human interaction—from how we make decisions and form relationships to how we handle conflict. Written by a postdoctoral researcher at UCL, it draws on both research and lived experience. As someone with AuDHD, the author shares how these insights have helped her navigate a neurotypical world. Insightful, practical, and deeply personal.

Fantasy Classic

The Lord of the Rings

By J.R.R. Tolkien

With Mrs Charlier

Indulge in a summer of the classic fantasy tale. TLOTR is a timeless adventure full of unforgettable characters, thrilling twists, and the ultimate battle between good and evil. It's going to be epic!

Fantasy Graphic Novel

The Wizard of Earthsea

By Ursula K Le Guin

With Mr Wells

A classic fantasy adventure, remimagined as a graphic novel. Follow Ged's story as he discovers his magical talent and is sent away from home to a wizard school (written 35 years before Harry Potter!) when he accidentally summons a monsterous shadow creature, he fails to banish it and must deal with the consequences.

For those in need of hope

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

By Mitch Albom

With Mr Evans

A novel ultimately concerning life, death, goodness, and the impact we have on others. The story centres on Eddie, his life and death, and the intersection of that life with his fellow humans. It's a novel that can be dismissed as sentimental, but it's also gripping, skilfully told, and appropriate for modern times.

Greek Mythology

Glorious Exploits

By Ferdia Lennon

With Mrs Howe & Ms Oliver

This is a best-selling novel, set during the Peloponnesian War in 412BC, which tells the story of two unemployed potters who plan to put on a Greek tragedy using Athenian prisoners of war who are starving to death. It’s both funny, and also sad in places.

Historical Fiction

Year of Wonders

By Geraldine Brooks

With Mr McElroy

A young woman’s struggle to save her family and her soul during the extraordinary year of 1666, when plague suddenly struck a small Derbyshire village.

Historical Thriller

Pompeii

By Robert Harris

With Mrs Atherton

During a sweltering week in late August, as Rome's richest citizens relax in their villas around Pompeii, there are ominous warnings that something is going wrong. Wells and springs are failing, a man has disappeared, and now the greatest aqueduct in the world - the mighty Aqua Augusta - has suddenly ceased to flow. Through the eyes of four characters - a young engineer, a teenaged girl, a corrupt millionaire and an elderly scientist - Robert Harris brilliantly recreates a luxurious world on the brink of destruction.

History

Histories of the Unexpected

By Sam Willis

With Mr. Lewsley

Did you know beards are linked to the Crimean War, paperclips to the Stasi, and bubbles to the French Revolution? Or that Himmler, Tutankhamun, needlework, napalm, and Victorian orphans are unexpectedly connected? This book explore major historical themes, from the Tudors to WWII, the Romans to the Victorians, through the most surprising of subjects.

History & Crime

Killers of the Flower Moon

By David Grann

With Mrs Bampton

In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma, as a result of the oil discovered beneath their land. One by one, the Osage began to be killed off under mysterious circumstances, and many of those who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered. As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case and began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history.

History & Humanity in 80 pages

Reunion

By Fred Uhlman

With Mrs Robbins

Are you interested in powerful stories of friendship, identity, and the impact of history? At only 80 pages long - this short but unforgettable novel tells the story of two boys, one Jewish, one from an aristocratic German family, whose close bond is torn apart by the rise of Nazism in 1930s Germany. Told with quiet intensity and emotional depth, the book explores how politics and prejudice can shatter lives, even in the most personal of ways

Jane Austen Fans

Emma

By Jane Austen

With Dr Cho and Miss Smith

Beautiful, clever, rich—and single—Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for love or marriage. But she can’t resist meddling in the love lives of others. When she ignores the warnings of her friend Mr Knightley and tries to match her protégée Harriet Smith with a suitable suitor, her plans begin to unravel in unexpected ways. With its flawed yet endearing heroine and sharp insights into relationships, Emma is often considered Jane Austen’s most accomplished novel.

Maths

Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities

By Ian Stewart

With Mrs Hassan

Shorter, snappy sections in this book reveal interesting facts and discoveries about familiar but fascinating topics. The author sparks your imagination by showing lots of amusing and intriguing pieces of mathematics, hoping your curiosity will lead you to dive deeper and enjoy the thrill of discovery. All welcome - no need to be a maths whizz!

Modern fiction

Help Wanted

By Adelle Waldman

With Dr Lexton

Darkly comic novel set in contemporary America. What do you do if you're trapped in system rigged against you? You break the rules of course. When Team Movement, the logistics workers of a big box retail store discover that the store manager is moving on, they see the chance to change their lives by promoting their terrible team leader. Mayhem and hilarity ensure but this deeply humane novel also offers a serious and deeply moving message about modern life and work.

Murder Mystery

And Then There Were None

By Agatha Christie

With Miss Anderson

"Ten strangers. One island. No escape.
Lured to an isolated manor by a mysterious host, they soon realise something is wrong. One by one, they’re killed—each death echoing a sinister nursery rhyme. With trust crumbling and time running out, they must find the killer… before no one is left. A chilling mystery packed with twists to the very end."

Refugee Fiction

The Beekeeper of Allepo

By Christy Lefteri

With Miss Hartley

The Beekeeper of Allepo deals with the plight of refugees from Aleppo in Syria to Europe during the Syrian Civil War. While a work of fiction, it is based on the author's experience over two summers volunteering in Athens at a refugee center. The novel explores themes of love, hope, trauma, and the refugee experience. It’s an emotional story that helps readers understand what it means to lose everything but still hold on to humanity.

Sci-Fi Graphic Novel

The Hard Switch

By Owen D. Pomery

With Ms Gray

The hard switch is coming. The mineral that fuels space travel is running out, and the scattered inhabitants of a vast galaxy will soon be stuck wherever they are. In the face of this impending change, the crew of a small cargo ship struggle to survive amongst the chaos and desperation...

Thought-provoking fiction

Sophie’s World

By Jostein Gaarder

With Mr Kirkham

An engaging story that introduces the ideas and history of Western philosophy, encouraging readers to reflect on life and the world around them. Fourteen-year-old Sophie Amundsen from Lillesand, Norway, begins receiving mysterious postcards that lead into a full philosophy course. Soon, she’s faced with profound questions like “Who are you?” and “Where does the universe come from?”

Thriller

Five Survive

By Holly Jackson

With Nefeli Maniadaki

"Eight hours. Six friends. Five survive.
Stranded in the middle of nowhere—no signal, no help—their RV breakdown is no accident. Someone wants them dead. With dawn eight hours away, they must escape… or find out who’s being hunted. But one of them may be lying. Secrets will erupt, trust will break, and not all will make it through the night."

YA Coming-of-age Fiction

The Hate U Give

By Angie Thomas

With Ms Atherton

This gripping novel follows sixteen-year-old Starr Carter as she navigates life between her poor neighbourhood and a rich prep school. Everything changes when Starr witnesses the police shooting of her best friend Khalil. 

Are AI friends in our future? A dystopian novel

Klara and the Sun

By Kazuo Ishiguro

With Miss Cumiskey

Ishiguro imagines a dystopian future in which some children are genetically enhanced for greater academic abilities. To prevent loneliness, parents provide their children with Artificial Friends. Told from the perspective of an AI companion, Klara and the Sun explores what it means to be human, what it means to be a parent, and the implications of artificial intelligence on society.

Myths retold

Home Fire

By Kamila Shamsie

With Ms Oliver and Mrs Howe

A gritty reimagining of Sophocles' Antigone. Sibling rivalry, conflict and disloyalty in modern Britain.

What is the super objective of life? A short philosophical fable

The Alchemist

By Paulo Coelho

With Mr Joy

The Alchemist is a story of self-discovery and the pursuit of one's 'personal legend', the true purpose in one's life. A short fable full of adventure and mystery.

Economics

Humankind

By Rutger Bregman

With Mrs Campion, Mr Whitworth, & Miss Huang

Challenges one of our deepest assumptions: that humans are naturally selfish and cruel. Drawing on economics, history and psychology, this inspiring re-examination of human nature asks us to imagine what society could achieve if we truly believed in the goodness of others.

Satire

God Bless You, Mr Rosewater

By Kurt Vonnegut

With Mr Evans

The USA's master satirist turns his attention to those who worship money, and how people who believe it can make you happy are sorely misguided. Eliot Rosewater knows he does not deserve his inheritance and sets off on a tour to find out more about himself and America.

History

Fascinating Footnotes from History

By Giles Milton

With Mr Lewsley

Did you know that Hitler took cocaine? That Stalin robbed a bank? That Charlie Chaplin's corpse was stolen and held to ransom? Giles Milton is the master of narrative history and with impeccable research his book spans twenty centuries and six continents to bring us some of the most infamous stories and flamboyant and colourful characters (and animals) from history.

Classic detective fiction

The Moonstone

By Wilkie Collins

With Ms Bergquist

Considered to be the forerunner of modern day detective novels; this classic 19th Century crime novel tells the story of an enormous diamond known as the Moonstone. Stolen from an Indian shrine, the diamond brings chaos to those who possess it.

Medical miracles- heartfelt non-fiction

The Story of a Heart

By Rachel Clarke

With Ms Wilde

9 year old Max is dying - he needs a new heart. But who will give it to him, and what are the steps it takes to make that possible? The Story of a Heart is both profoundly moving and full of fascinating medical insight. Blending real-life experiences with heartfelt reflection, it explores what it means to live, care, and love in the face of mortality. A beautiful and thought-provoking read for anyone — especially those considering a future in medicine.

Medicine

This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor

By Adam Kay

With A.C. Davies-Khan and Izzy Moore

This memoir offers a candid, humorous and often moving account of life as a junior doctor in the NHS. Through diary entries, Adam Kay shares real experiences from hospital wards, highlighting the pressures, emotional challenges and unexpected moments that define medical work. The book gives a realistic insight into the day-to-day realities of a medical career, encouraging reflection on resilience, empathy and the human side of healthcare.

Science

Bad Science

By Ben Goldacre

With Nishka Gavankar and Anna Vlad

This book offers a sharp, accessible and often witty examination of how science is misrepresented in the media, by alternative medicine practitioners and even by some scientists themselves. Ben Goldacre explains how bad data, misleading statistics and sensationalist reporting can distort public understanding of health and science. Through clear explanations and critical analysis, the book equips readers with the tools to question evidence, understand scientific methods and think more critically about the information they encounter in everyday life.

Computer Science

Hello World: How to be Human in the Age of the Machine

By Hannah Fry

With Giorgio Pinto and Ethan McDonald

This book offers an accessible and thought-provoking look at how algorithms shape modern life, from healthcare and policing to dating and art. Hannah Fry uses real examples to show both the power and the limitations of data-driven decision-making, revealing where algorithms excel and where human judgement remains essential. The book encourages readers to think critically about technology’s role in society and to consider the ethical challenges of living in an increasingly automated world.

Mathematics

How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method

By George Polya

With Mrs Bampton

This classic guide to mathematical thinking introduces a clear four-step method: understand the problem, devise a plan, carry out the plan, and look back. It encourages structured, creative approaches to unfamiliar problems and helps readers develop flexible reasoning skills rather than relying on memorised methods. It provides an excellent foundation for anyone wanting to think more like a mathematician.

Sci-fi dystopia

The Knife of Never Letting Go

By Patrick Ness

With Miss Ferreira

In this trilogy, New World has been overtaken by the Noise, an alien germ that also is said to have killed all the women. All thoughts of those surviving are heard outloud, requiring strict control. In a novel where thoughts are so public, and subgroups are either protected or persecuted for their differences and desires, you may find lessons for today's world.

Graphic Novel

Noughts & Crosses

By Malorie Blackman, Ian Edginton, John Aggs

With Ms Jaoui

The long-awaited graphic novel adaptation of one of the most influential, critically acclaimed and original novels of all time, from multi-award-winning Malorie Blackman. Callum is a nought - an inferior white citizen in a society controlled by the black Crosses. Sephy is a Cross - and the daughter of one of the most powerful, ruthless men in the country. In their hostile, violent world, noughts and Crosses simply don't mix... or do they? Voted as one of the UK's best-loved books, Noughts & Crosses is a seminal piece of YA fiction; a true modern classic.

Dragons

A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent

By Marie Brennan

With Miss A Gray

Step into the boots of Lady Trent, a fearless Victorian(ish) naturalist with a passion for the most elusive of creatures - dragons! Invited on an expedition to mountainous Vystrana, young Isabella Trent embarks on a journey that will require courage and curiosity, and which will change her life forever...A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan blends the elegance of historical memoir with the thrill of scientific discovery and the danger of mythical beasts.

YA Fiction

Moonrise

By Sarah Crossan

With Mrs Hassan

Joe hasn't seen his brother for ten years, and it's for the most brutal of reasons. Ed is on death row. But now Ed's execution date has been set, and Joe is determined to spend those last weeks with him, no matter what other people think ...

Science Fiction/TV tie-in

Murderbot : All systems red

By Martha Wells

With Dr Basra

Funny, fast-paced and heartwarming. This short novel is narrated by a self-aware security robot (part machine, part organic tissue). Think sarcastic AI learns what it means to be a person while reluctantly saving humans and complaining about it the whole time.

Classic literature

Northanger Abbey

By Jane Austen

With Dr Lexton

Follow the experiences of 17-year-old Gothic-novel fan Catherine Morland as she enters the social whirl of eighteenth-century Bath. Catherine is "in training for a heroine" just like the characters in her favourite fictional adventures -- but will she find true love and happiness or will her imagination run away with her? A delightfully satirical and snappy coming of age novel.

Crime/Murder Mystery

The Hunting Party

By Lucy Foley

With Ms Moore-Bridger

A group of old friends from Oxford gather for their annual New Year's celebration at a remote hunting lodge in the Scottish Highlands. Cut off by a snowstorm one ends up dead. A classic locked room mystery with a modern twist.

Fantasy

The Rose Field

By Philip Pullman

With Mr Hammond

The conclusion to the epic 'Book of Dust' Trilogy featuring Lyra Belaqua and set in the epic 'Dark Materials' world. The conclusion of a journey that's been thirty years in the making, if you've already read the other books, why not read the final instalment together!

Crime/Murder Mystery

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

By Agatha Christie

With Mrs Charlier

One of Christie's most famous and innovative detective novels, featuring Hercule Poirot. Perfect for Christmas reading. Don't let anyone spoil the ending!

Historical Thriller

Enigma

By Robert Harris

With Mr Wragg

Set at Bletchley Park during World War II, the story centres on mathematician Tom Jericho who works on breaking the German naval Enigma code. The novel weaves together the tense code breaking work with a spy mystery, exploring themes of secrecy, betrayal, and the moral complexities of wartime intelligence. It's a fast-paced blend of historical detail about code-breaking and espionage thriller.

AI and business

Supremacy – AI, ChatGPT and the race that will change the world

By Parmy Olson

With Mrs Robbins

Financial Times and Schroders Business book of the year 2024. This is an astonishing, behind-the-scenes story of the battle between two AI companies, their struggles to use their tech for good, and the possibly dangerous paths that may arise in the future. A great read for anyone interested in AI and the human stories behind it!

YA Historical fiction

Salt to the Sea

By Ruta Sepetys

With Mrs Thomas

A poignant historical novel set during World War II, following four young refugees as they navigate the harrowing journey to escape the impending disaster of the Wilhelm Gustloff sinking.

Action packed spy thriller

Stormbreaker

By Anthony Horowitz

With Ms Atherton

Nothing prepares 14-year-old Alex Rider for the news that the uncle he thought he knew was really a spy for MI6. Forcibly recruited into MI6 himself, and armed with top-secret, state-of-the-art gadgets, Alex is sent to finish his uncle’s final mission – a mission that involves a wealthy sinister businessman and his new tech creation: a super computer called Stormbreaker.

Psychology

Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain

By Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

With Amelie Tyler, Alexandra Wood and Ava Clark

This book explores how the brain changes and develops during adolescence, covering topics such as decision-making, risk-taking, social interaction and identity. Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience, it explains how these changes shape behaviour and learning. It encourages readers to think critically about the relationship between biology and psychology, deepens understanding of human development and promotes analytical skills through engagement with real scientific research.

Survival stories

Hatchet

By Gary Paulsen

With Ms Atherton

Brian is a city boy. Not used to living rough. Until his plane crash-lands in the Canadian wilderness. All he has is a hatchet - and a desperate will to survive. Now Brian must learn to live the hard way - or die.

Historical Fiction

Innocent Traitor

By Alison Weir

With Miss Anderson

"I am now a condemned traitor . . . I am to die when I have hardly begun to live." Lady Jane Grey, also known as the Nine-Day-Queen, was beheaded at just 16 years old. Alison Weir expertly transports us back in time to see the story through Jane's eyes as she is raised to be a political pawn for her power-hungry parents. The high stakes game sees Jane achieve the highest heights, before plummeting to the lowest lows. A truly powerful read.

Jazz and the Roaring 20s

Young Man with a Horn

By Dorothy Baker

With Mr Evans

Do you like jazz but are afraid to admit it? Here's a safe space for us to explore the world of gin jukes, speakeasies, and freeform music. Baker’s novel tells the story of Rick Martin, his candle-like destructive life dedicated to the creation of music. He is a marked man; a lifelong sucker for syncopation.

Historical fantasy

Across the Nightingale Floor

By Lian Hearn

With Ms Moore-Bridger

Set in a mythical, feudal, Japanese land, a world both beautiful and cruel, the intense love story of two young people takes place against a background of warring clans, secret alliances, high honour and lightning swordplay.

Lock in with some non-fiction – Fascinating look at how social media is transforming the future of language

Algospeak

By Adam Aleksic

With Dr Evans

From the rise of leetspeak and words such as “unalive” to the trend of adding “-core” to different influencer aesthetics, the internet has ushered in an unprecedented linguistic upheaval. In Algospeak, online etymologist Adam Aleksic shines a light on the roots of words that we don’t realise have come from unexpected places – from incel culture, from the innovation of users trying to get around content moderation algorithms, from the marketing speak that has invaded our personal lives.

Jane Austen Fans

Sense and Sensibility

By Jane Austen

With Ms Smith and Ms Cho

Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic.

YA Climate-Fiction Thriller

Dry

By Neal Shusterman

With Mr Wragg

How would you survive if the taps ran dry? Set in California after a 'Tap-Out' scenario, the teen protagonists struggle to survive as water becomes scarce and all the adults die.

Gothic mystery

Rebecca

By Daphne du Maurier

With Miss Cumiskey

In the 1930s, a young woman marries a handsome, wealthy widower and arrives at his sprawling ancestral home only to discover that not all is as it seems... what exactly happened to his first wife, Rebecca? And why does Mrs Danvers seem so unwelcoming? Mysteries abound in this gripping gothic novel.

Gothic Horror

Frankenstein

By Mary Shelley

With Mrs Robbins

Mary Shelley started writing this novel when she was just 18. It tells the story of gifted scientist Victor Frankenstein who succeeds in giving life to a being of his own creation. However, this is not the perfect specimen he imagines that it will be, but rather a hideous creature who is rejected by Victor and mankind in general. The Monster seeks its revenge through murder and terror.

Greek Mythology

No Friend to this House

By Natalie Haynes

With Mrs Howe

This a modern re-telling of the story of Jason and the Argonauts and the part played by the powerful and dangerous Medea.

Psychology and technology

The Anxious Generation

By Jonathan Haidt

With Leo Wilkin (L6th)

Acclaimed psychologist Jonathan Haidt reveals how the decline of free-play in childhood and the rise of smartphone use among adolescents is changing our world.

Golden-age detective fiction

Murder Must Advertise

By Dorothy L. Sayers

With Ms Bergquist

Lord Peter Wimsey takes a job - one that soon draws him into a vicious network of blackmailers and drug pedlars. Five people will die before Wimsey unravels a sinister and deadly plot.

Economics

Can You Run the Economy?

By Joe Mayes

With Mrs Campion, Mr Whitworth & Miss Huang

Could you run the country without crashing the economy? This book puts you in the Chancellor’s seat. Every choice counts, taxes, spending, strikes, scandals, and one bad call could end your career. Fast, interactive, and brilliantly real, it turns economics into a high-stakes game. Will you survive?

Coming-of-age novel set in Afghanistan

The Kite Runner

By Khaled Hosseini

With Mr Bilclough

A powerful coming-of-age novel about friendship, guilt, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of a changing Afghanistan, the story follows Amir, a privileged boy from Kabul, and his loyal friend Hassan. After a betrayal in childhood, Amir spends years haunted by regret, eventually embarking on a journey as an adult to confront his.

Sweeping Historical Adventure

Washington Black

By Esi Edugyan

With Mr Bilclough

A sweeping historical adventure that follows Wash, a young boy born into slavery on a Barbados sugar plantation. After a shocking incident forces him to flee, Wash embarks on a globe-spanning journey that takes him from Barbados to the Arctic and beyond. Blending themes of freedom, identity, science, and belonging, the novel.

The story of refugees fleeing Syria

The Beekeeper of Aleppo

By Christy Lefteri

With Mr Bilclough

Tells the moving story of Nuri, a beekeeper, and his wife Afra as they escape the devastation of war in Aleppo and undertake a dangerous journey across continents seeking safety in the UK. Set against the realities of the refugee experience, the novel examines love, grief, resilience, and hope, highlighting how trauma reshapes memory.

Graphic Novel

Lord of the Flies

By Aimee De Jong/William Golding

With Ms Atherton

A new powerful and beautifully illustrated graphic novel adapted from William Golding's classic of 30 children fighting to survive whilst stranded on a remote island.

Whimsical Parisian Mystery

The Red Notebook

By Antoine Laurain

With Mrs Thomas

A charming Parisian mystery where a lost notebook sparks a chain of small wonders, connecting strangers through kindness and curiosity.

Geography and Politics

A History of the World in 47 Borders

By John Elledge

With Dr Basra

From the Roman attempts to define the boundaries of civilisation, to the secret British-French agreement to carve up the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, to the reason why landlocked Bolivia still maintains a navy, this is a fascinating, witty and surprising look at the history of the world told through its borders. By telling the stories of these borders, we can learn a lot about how political identities are shaped, why the world looks the way it does - and about the scale of human folly.

Fun and humorous Sci-Fi

Project Hail Mary

By Andy Weir

With Nefeli Maniadaki (L6th)

Project Hail Mary follows Ryland Grace, the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission to save humanity from an extinction-level threat. Waking up with amnesia millions of miles from home, he must piece together his mission and rely on an unexpected, alien ally to solve an impossible scientific mystery. Packed with razor-sharp science, unexpected humour, and edge-of-your-seat twists, the soon to be a major film Project Hail Mary is written by best-selling author Andrew Weir, author of the sci-fi classic, The Martian.

Candid business memoir

Shoe Dog

By Phil Knight

With Tom Holborn (L6th)

Shoe Dog is a candid memoir in which Phil Knight recounts the scrappy, uncertain early days of building Nike from a small startup into a global brand. Blending business lessons with personal struggles, it offers an honest look at risk, resilience, and the messy reality behind entrepreneurial success.

Spooky fantasy

Something Wicked Comes This Way

By Ray Bradbury

With Miss Ferreira

When a mysterious carnival rolls into town, two boys are swept into a battle against its eerie, soul‑twisting magic. As the carnival feeds on people’s deepest fears and desires, they must confront darkness both supernatural and within themselves to save their community.

YA Crime Thriller

The Cousins

By Karen M. McManus

With Mrs Charlier

Three cousins, one cold‑hearted grandmother, and a summer on a mysterious island where the family’s darkest secrets refuse to stay buried.

Engineering Science

Stuff Matters: The Strange Stories of the Marvellous Materials that Shape Our Man-Made World

By Mark Miodownik

With Mr Rea

From the everyday objects in our homes to the most extraordinary new materials that will shape our future, Stuff Matters reveals the inner workings of the man-made world, the miracles of craft, design, engineering and ingenuity that surround us every day. From the tea-cup to the jet engine, the silicon chip to the paper clip, from the ancient technologies of fabrics and ceramic to today's self-healing metals and bionic implants, this is a book to inspire amazement and delight at mankind's creativity.

Leadership Memoir

A Different Kind of Power

By Jacinda Ardern

With Mrs Bateson

The deeply personal memoir from the former prime minister of New Zealand, then the world's youngest female head of government and just the second to become a mother in office. This is the inspiring story of how a Mormon girl plagued by self-doubt changed our assumptions of what a leader can be. A Different Kind of Power is more than a political memoir. Powerfully evocative and refreshingly open, it is a profound insight into how it feels to lead, it asks: what if you, too, are capable of more than you ever imagined?

YA Dystopian Fiction

The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins

With Miss Cole

In a brutal arena where survival is a spectacle, Katniss Everdeen becomes the spark of rebellion. Forced to fight for her life, she discovers that sometimes the greatest weapon is defiance.

Psychology and Sport

Bounce: The Myth of Talent and The Power of Practice

By Matthew Syed

With Sam Gulliford and George Morgan (L6th)

Discover the science behind success as Matthew Syed reveals why greatness isn’t born — it’s built through purposeful practice.
An engaging and entertaining book that shows us how effort, mindset, and resilience can turn potential into achievement.

Psychological / Coming-of-age  

The Great Godden

By Meg Rosoff

With Ms Atherton

The perfect summer read: A sunsoaked summer at the seaside turns sour when a charismatic boy pulls a group of cousins into a web of desire, jealousy and betrayal, with devastating consequences.

Jane Austen Fan Fiction

The Other Bennet Sister

By Janice Hadlow

With Ms Smith and Ms Cho

‘The Other Bennet Sister’ follows Mary Bennet, the overlooked, plain middle sister in Pride and Prejudice, as she moves beyond her family’s neglect to find self-confidence, identity, and love.

Big Tech / Whistleblower Memoir

Careless People

By Sarah Wynn-Williams

With Mr Rea

Sarah Wynn-Williams joined Facebook believing the company could change things for the better. Instead, what she encountered over seven years was so shocking that Meta obtained a legal order to silence her. ‘Careless People’ follows interconnected characters moving through elite social circles where ambition, privilege, and carelessness collide. As relationships fray and moral boundaries blur, seemingly minor decisions carry serious consequences. The story examines how power and entitlement shape behaviour, exposing the emotional fallout of selfish choices in a world where accountability is often avoided or ignored.

Fun and engaging history

Adventures in Time: The Fall of the Aztecs

By Dominic Sandbrook

With Dr Basra

The Aztec Empire had been blessed by the gods. Its pyramid temples were warmed by the sun, its fields were thick with corn, its bustling marketplaces were full of feathers, pottery and jewellery. But the Emperor Montezuma was troubled by terrifying omens. And when Spanish sailors landed on the shore, seeking their fortunes in a foreign land, nothing would ever be the same...

Ancient Egyptian Fantasy

His Face is the Sun

By Michelle Jabes

With Ms Moore-Bridger

Princess. Priestess. Rebel. Thief. The kingdom of Khetara awaits an uncertain future… As the gilded royal court revels in decadence, turning a blind eye to the civil unrest threatening to overspill the rural southern lands, an inescapable storm of change is brewing. For the pharaoh is dying and fate will come for them all.

Comic Satirical Fantasy

Small Gods

By Terry Pratchett

With Miss Ferreira

‘The trouble with being a god is that you’ve got no one to pray to...’ Religion is a competitive business on the Discworld. Everyone has their own opinion and their own gods, of every shape and size - all fighting for faith, followers, and a place at the top. So when the great god Om accidentally manifests himself as a lowly tortoise, stripped of all divine power, it's clear he's become less important than he realised. In such instances, you need an acolyte, and fast. Enter Brutha, the Chosen One - or at least the only One available. He wants peace, justice and love - but that's hard to achieve in a world where religion means power, and corruption reigns supreme…

YA Dystopian

The Territory

By Sarah Govett

With Mr Wragg

The Year is 2059. Noa Blake is just another 15-year-old with exams looming. Except in the Territory, normal isn’t normal. The richest children have a node on the back of their necks and can download information, bypassing the need to study. In a flooded world of dwindling resources, Noa and the other ‘Norms’ have their work cut out even to compete. And competing is everything – because anyone who fails the exams will be shipped off to the Wetlands, which means a life of misery, if not certain death. But how to focus when your heart is being torn in two directions at once?

Romcom

Falling Hard for the Royal Guard

By Megan Clawson

With Miss Anderson

Love is in the heir in this royally good romcom – perfect for anyone who likes relatable heroines (with great hair), hot and aloof book boyfriends (with great hats), near misses, almost kisses and a corgi or two.  Megan Clawson, the author, used to live in the Tower of London and has woven her real-life experiences of life inside a historic palace - more hilarious than you would expect - to create a brilliant romcom layered with historical knowledge and a few of her own embarrassing mishaps.

YA Dystopian

Gone

By Michael Grant

With Miss Cumiskey

In the blink of an eye all the adults disappear in a small town in southern California, and no one knows why. Cut off from the outside world, those that are left are trapped, and there’s no help on the way. Sam Temple and his friends must do all they can to survive. Chaos rules the streets. Gangs begin to form. Sides are chosen – strong or weak. Cruel or humane. And then there are those who begin to develop powers…

YA Thriller

Stolen

By Lucy Christopher

With Mrs Thomas

Sixteen-year-old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype – he's young and attractive. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist – almost.

Refugee Stories

In The Sea There Are Crocodiles

By Fabio Geda

With Mrs Robbins

What would you do if you were ten and left to fend for yourself?  In order to survive, Enaiat must undertake a journey from war-torn Afghanistan to Italy in the hands of smugglers and alone.  A story of hope and survival.

Economics

The Shortest History of Economics

By Andrew Leigh

With Mrs Campion, Mr Whitworth and Miss Huang

Find out more about the ideas that shape our world, from money, markets and trade to inequality, technology and growth. Learn how economics helps explain almost everything: why countries become rich, why crises happen, and how everyday choices connect to global forces. Fast-moving and full of real-world relevance.

Mythology / Historical Fiction

Pandora

By Susan Stokes-Chapman

With Mrs Howe

Blending Georgian historical fiction with Gothic mystery and the myth of Pandora.  When an unusual ancient Greek vase arrives at her uncle’s shop, Dora joins forces with a young scholar to investigate it. Together, they uncover family secrets that have Dora questioning everything she has believed about her life and the world as she knows it.

Fantasy

Six of Crows

By Leigh Bardugo

With Mrs Charlier

Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams - but he can't pull it off alone. Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction - if they don't kill each other first.

Novella / Chess Enthusiasts

Chess

By Stefan Zweig

With Ms Bergquist

On a cruise ship, a group of passengers challenge a world chess champion to a game. Partway through the match, a mysterious stranger intervenes to help the struggling challengers. Who is this stranger, and how did he become so good at chess? The origin of his talent is surprising and disturbing. A short novel full of suspense and psychological interest (and equally gripping whether you are a chess player or not!).

Intellectual, Non-Fiction, Psychological

The Other Girl

By Annie Ernaux

With Ms Gutulan

A haunting reckoning with absence, guilt and the strange intimacy of a sister never known. In a voice at once clinical (not a single superfluous word) and deeply wounded, Annie Ernaux excavates the silence about an older sister who died before Annie was born, and the complex lifelong burden of being written into someone else’s place. Part confession, part investigation, the book asks unsettling questions about memory, identity and the stories families bury in order to survive.

A Friendship in Books

84 Charing Cross Road

By Helene Hanff

With Dr Lexton

A moving true story unfolded through a series of letters between New York writer and voracious reader Helene Hanff and booksellers Messers Marks & Cross of Charing Cross Road, London. This captivating little book on the joys of friendship is a delight for the soul while the amusing anecdotes and charming personal voice will give you dinner-party material forever!

A Mathematical Adventure

The Number Devil

By Hans Magnus Enzensberger

With Mrs Hassan

The quirky and unusual story of a young boy who hates maths at school, but who discovers a new side to the subject when he meets an unusual mathematician in a dream. This book takes you on an adventure through creative mathematical thinking, with great illustrations along the way.

Society/ Feminism

Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights

By Helen Lewis

With Mrs Tayler

For anyone who feels held back by 'the tyranny of niceness': learn about real women who were willing to break rules, norms and laws to drive change. Divided along different areas of life (work, sex, sport, education, safety, love), this witty and inspirational book allows a dip-in or deep-dive approach.

Memoir / Holocaust Testimony

The Hiding Place

By Corrie ten Boom

With Ms Gómez

True story about the ten Boom family, a Dutch Christian family who lived above their clock/watch repair shop in Haarlem, the Netherlands and how courage, faith, resistance and forgiveness were key in their survival and for the rest of their lives.

Dystopian, Political, Sci-Fi

Fahrenheit 451

By Ray Bradbury

With Mr McElroy

Imagine a world where books are illegal and curiosity is dangerous. In Fahrenheit 451, fireman Guy Montag hunts stories instead of reading them, until one brave question changes everything. Fast-paced, rebellious, and thought-provoking, this novel challenges readers to fight conformity and discover the power of thinking for themselves independently.

Endurance Running and Inner Peace

Mind over Miles: The untold story behind the record-breaking run

By Russ Cook AKA Hardest Geezer

With Mrs Pratt

Hardest Geezer, Russ Cook, is the first person to run the entire length of Africa. From his starting point in Cape Agulhas, South Africa, through sandstorms in the Sahara Desert, rainforests, mountain ranges and long empty roads stretched out for miles in front of him, Russ ran the equivalent of 386 marathons finally crossing the finish line in Tunisia 50 weeks later.


Attempted kidnaps, being held at gunpoint in an armed robbery and the whole challenge left hanging in the balance when he was denied the right to cross Algeria, Russ never once contemplated giving up. When he crossed the finish line in Ras Angela, he did so with the eyes of the world on him. Russ Cook shares how he turned his life around to face these challenges and shares his motivations and tales of incredible determination, sheer grit and endurance.

Sci Fi Adventure

Artemis

By Andy Weir

With Mr Wells

A page turning adventure set on the moon from the author of 'Project Hail Mary'. Jazz Bashara is one of the criminals. She lives in a poor area of Artemis and subsidises her work as a porter with smuggling contraband onto the moon. But it's not enough. So when she's offered the chance to make a lot of money she jumps at it. But though planning a crime in 1/6th gravity may be more fun, it's also a lot more dangerous.

Big Ideas - The Future of Humanity Explored

Homo Deus

By Yuval Noah Harari

With Raghav R

Homo Deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century and beyond - from overcoming death to creating artificial life.

It asks the fundamental questions: how can we protect this fragile world from our own destructive power? And what does our future hold?

YA vampire romance

Twilight

By Stephanie Meyer

With Alida M

When Bella Swan moves to the rainy town of Forks, she expects boredom—but not Edward Cullen. Mysterious, beautiful, and hiding a dangerous secret, Edward draws Bella into a world where love and danger collide.
As their connection deepens, Bella must decide: is falling for him worth risking everything?

Espionage and Spy Thriller

The Spy and the Traitor

By Ben Macintyre

With Raph W

The greatest true story of Cold War espionage led by a student passionate about history. Ben Macintyre reveals a tale of espionage, betrayal and raw courage that changed the course of the Cold War forever.

Rebuilding Civilisation Guide

The Knowledge: How To Rebuild Our World After An Apocalypse

By Prof Lewis Dartnell

With Joseph B

A nuclear war, viral pandemic or asteroid strike. The world as we know it has ended. You and the other survivors must start again. What knowledge would you need to start rebuilding civilisation from scratch?
How do you grow food, generate power, prepare medicines, or get metal out of rocks? Could you avert another Dark Ages, or take shortcuts to accelerate redevelopment? Living in the modern world, we have become disconnected from the basic processes and key fundamentals of science that sustain our lives.

Historical Fiction

The Scarlet Pimpernel

By Baroness Orczy

With Camilla I

An exciting novel taking place during the Reign of Terror following the start of the French Revolution. The title is the nom de guerre of its hero and protagonist, a chivalrous Englishman who rescues aristocrats before they are sent to the guillotine. Sir Percy Blakeney leads a double life: apparently nothing more than a wealthy fop, but in reality, a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking master of disguise and escape artist. The band of gentlemen who assist him are the only ones who know of his secret identity. He is known by his symbol, a simple flower, the scarlet pimpernel (Angallis arvensis).

Non-Fiction Science Memoir

Surely you’re joking Mr Feynman: Adventures of a curious character

By Richard P. Feynman

With Polina R

A wise, funny, passionate and totally honest autobiography of one of the world's greatest theoretical physicists. An artist, safecracker, practical joker and storyteller, Feynman's life was a series of combustible combinations made possible by his unique mixture of high intelligence, unquenchable curiosity and eternal scepticism. Based on Feynman's conversations with his friend Ralph Leighton.