Dulwich College Singapore Junior/Senior Library
Recommended Reading 2015
Opening Hours
8.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday
Junior Library, Dulwich College Singapore 71 Bukit Batok West Ave 8 Singapore 658966
email: [email protected] telephone: +65 68901063 catalogue: http://dcsg.follettdestiny.com/
You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture.Just get people to stop reading them.
Ray Bradbury (1920–2012)
WelcomeThese reading lists are a selection of the titles available in the Junior/Senior Library at Dulwich College and are intended for students’ and parents’ guidance. They aim to include a range of genres and writing styles to engage, interest and perhaps challenge students to broaden their reading choices. With over 6000 children’s books published in the UK alone every year it is often difficult to identify quality writing so these lists are an attempt to guide you towards some of the best available.
The lists should be used with discretion. If you feel the list for your particular age group does not include titles at an appropriate level for your reading age and ability level you may wish to select from the list intended for a younger or older year group. However the main aim of these lists are to encourage an enjoyment of reading and to introduce you to books you may not have considered reading.
Reading broadens horizons, helps develop written and spoken vocabulary and spelling, aids in the development of empathy, expands one’s thinking and imagination, and may introduce you to new ideas and worlds. It is one of life’s fundamental skills and pleasures.
The Library, in conjunction with the English Department, runs an annual Senior School Reading Challenge where students are encouraged to read from a wide range of genre over the course of a year and maintain a reading log as well as completing a range of literacy tasks. In the Junior School, we have launched a termly Reading Bingo Challenge with pupils being given a choice of fiction genres and non-fiction topics to read around in order to achieve a certificate of achievement.
We also participate in the International School Librarians Network Red Dot Book Award each year http://www.reddotawards.com/ where students are challenged to read eight books in their age category and vote for the favourite. They may then compete in the Readers Cup event and represent Dulwich in an annual quiz, against other Singapore schools, testing their knowledge of the books.
Our library catalogue http://dcsg.follettdestiny.com/ has an extensive range of Recommended Reading Lists under Resource Lists>Public Lists where books are categorized according to genre as well as reading age and level.
You may also wish to make use of our Pinterest page http://www.pinterest.com/DCSGLibrary/ which presents this information in a visual format with links to Good Reads reviews.
Year 3 Recommended ReadingLaurence Anholt. Seriously Silly series
Philip Ardagh. Grubtown Tales
Annie Barrows Ivy and Bean series
Terence Blacker. Ms Wizz series
Adam Blade. Beast Quest series
Michael Bond. Paddington series
Jeff Brown. Flat Stanley
Lauren Child. Clarice Bean series
Steve Cole. Astrosaurs series
Eoin Colfer. The Legend of Spud Murphy
Andrew Cope. Spy Dog series
Roald Dahl. The Twits / Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Joshua Doder. Grk series
Dorothy Edwards. My Naughty Little Sister series
Anne Fine. Bill’s New Frock; Diary of a Killer Cat; How to Write Really Badly; Angel of Nitshill Road
Sally Gardener. Magical Children series
Astrid Lindgren Pippi Longstocking
Dick King-Smith. George Speaks
Michael Morpurgo. Cool; The Butterfly Lion; Marble Crusher
Jill Murphy. Worst Witch series
Dav Pilkey. Captain Underpants
Angie Sage. Araminta Spook series
Francesca Simon. Horrid Henry series
Andy Stanton. Mr Gum series
Catherine Storr Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf
Jeremy Strong. 100 Mile an Hour Dog series
Jill Tomlinson. The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
Ian Whybrow. Little Wolf
Jacqueline Wilson. Monster Story-Teller
Year 4 Recommended ReadingAllan Ahlberg. Clothes Horse; It was a Dark and Stormy Night
David Almond. My Dad’s a Birdman; The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas; The Boy Who Climbed to the Moon
Malorie Blackman. Cloudbusting
Frank Cottrell Boyce. Unforgotten Coat
Humphrey Carpenter. Mr Majeika series
Cressida Cowell. How to Train Your Dragon series
Sharon Creech. The Wanderer
Roald Dahl. Danny the Champion of the World
Antoine De Saint-Exupery. The Little Prince
Sam Gayton. Snow Merchant
Ted Hughes. The Iron Man; How the Whale Became
Eva Ibbotson. One Boy and His Dog
Pete Johnson. Trust Me, I’m a Troublemaker
Eric Kastner. Emil and the Detectives
Clive King. Stig of the Dump
Elizabeth Laird. Secret Friends
C.S. Lewis. Narnia series
Robert C. O’Brien. Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
Philippa Pearce. Battle of Bubble and Squeak; A dog so small
Philip Pullman. Clockwork; Firework Maker’s Daughter; I was a Rat
Philip Reeve. There’s no such thing as dragons; Oliver and the Seawigs
Chris Riddell. Ottoline series; Goth Girl series
Louis Sachar. Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes; There’s a girl in the boy’s bathroom
SF Said. Varjak Paw
Marcus Sedgewick. Raven mysteries
Barbara Sleigh. Carbonel series
Dodie Smith. One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Lemony Snicket. A Series of Unfortunate Events
Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. Fergus Crane; Ottoline; Goth girl
Jeremy Strong. The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog series; My Brother’s Famous Bottom series
Robert Swindells. Room 13
David Walliams. Gangsta Granny; Mr Stink; Billionaire Boy
E.B. White. Charlotte’s Web
Marcia Williams. Archie’s War; The Adventures of Robin Hood
Year 5 Recommended ReadingJoan Aiken. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Malorie Blackman. Pigheart Boy
Frank Cottrell Boyce. Framed; Millions
Betsy Byars. The 18th Emergency
Eoin Colfer. Artemis Fowl series
Chris D’Lacey. The Last Dragon Chronicles series
Bertie Doherty. Street Child
Deborah Ellis. Breadwinner series
Cornelia Funke. Dragonrider
Jack Gantos. Joey Pigza series
Adele Geras, Linda Newbery and Ann Turnbull. Historical House series
Morris Gleitzman. Two Weeks with the Queen; Once series
Debi Gliori. Pure Dead Magic
Julia Golding. Cat Royal series; Companions series
Charlie Higson. Young Bond series
Anthony Horowitz. Alex Rider series; Diamond Brothers series
Eva Ibbotson. Journey to the River Sea
Brian Jacques. Redwall series
Pete Johnson. The Bad Spy’s Guide
Judith Kerr. When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit
Derek Landy. Skulduggery Pleasant series
Michael Lawrence. Jiggy McCue series
Sally Nicholls. Ways to Live Forever
Jenny Nimmo. Charlie Bone series
Garth Nix. Keys to the Kingdom series
Mary Norton. The Borrowers
James Patterson. I Funny series
Michelle Paver. Wolf Brother
Philip Pullman. Spring-Heeled Jack; Firework maker’s Daughter
Philip Reeve. Predator Cities series
Philip Ridley. Krindlekrax; Scribbleboy
Rick Riordan. Percy Jackson series
Louis Sachar. Wayside School series
Angie Sage. Magyk series
Ali Sparkes. Shapeshifter series
Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. Edge Chronicles series
Red Dot Book Award WinnersJUNIOR (Years 3–5)
Adeline Foo. The Diary of Amos Lee
David Walliams. Mr Stink
Andy Griffiths. The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow
William Joyce. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore
AJ Low, Aden Jimenez, and Felicia Low-Jimenez. Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong
Chris Riddell. Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
Neil Gaiman. Fortunately, the Milk
Eva Ibbotson. One Dog and his Boy
Nicola Davies. Rubbish Town Hero
Matt Haig. To Be a Cat
Chris Riddell. Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse
Kevin Henkes. The Year of Billy Miller
MIDDLE (Years 5–7)
Trenton Lee Stewart. The Mysterious Benedict Society
Chris Morphew. The Phoenix Files
Raina Telgemeier. Smile
RJ Palacio. Wonder
Simon Mayo. Itch
Siobhan Dowd. London Eye Mystery
Candy Gourlay. Tall Story
Andy Mulligan. Trash
Sarah Crossan. Weight of Water
Kate DiCamillo. Flora and Ulysses
Holly Black. Doll Bones
Katherine Rundell. Rooftoppers
Jonathan Stroud. The Screaming Staircase
Cece Bell. El Deafo
SENIOR (Years 9–10)
Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games
William Kamkwamba. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Daniel Finn. Two Good Thieves
David Small. Stitches
John Green. The Fault In Our Stars
Johan Harstad. 172 Hours on the Moon
Patrick Ness. The Knife of Never Letting Go
Sherman Alexie. The Absolutely Diary of a Part-Time Indian
David Almond. The Boy Who Swam With Pirhanas
David Levithan. Every Day
Fabio Geda. In the Sea There Are Crocodiles
Jason Wallace. Out of the Shadows
Siobhan Dowd. A Monster Calls
E Lockhart. We Were Liars
Year 6 Recommended ReadingDavid Almond. Skellig; My Name is Mina
Nina Bawden. Carrie’s War
Malorie Blackman. Pig Heart Boy
Pseudonymous Bosch. The Name of this Book is Secret [and others in the series]
Tim Bowler. River Boy
Frank Cottrell Boyce. Millions; Cosmic
Georgia Byng. Molly Moon series
Eoin Colfer. Artemis Fowl series
Zizou Corder. Lionboy
Sharon Creech. Walk Two Moons; Chasing Redbird; Ruby Holler
Siobhan Dowd. London Eye Mystery
Helen Dunmore. Ingo series
Charlie Fletcher. Stoneheart series
Neil Gaiman. The Graveyard Book; Coraline
Sally Grindley. Spilled Water
Carl Hiaasen. Hoot
Charlie Higson. Young Bond series
Anthony Horowitz. Stormbreaker series
Eva Ibbotson. Journey to the River Sea; The Star of Kazan; The Abominables
Brian Jacques. Redwall series
Elizabeth Laird. Garbage King
Derek Landy. Skulduggery Pleasant series
Michael Morpurgo. Private Peaceful
Patrick Ness. A Monster Calls
Sally Nicholls. Ways to Live Forever
Garth Nix. Sabriel series
RJ Palacio. Wonder
Michelle Paver. Wolf Brother; The Outsiders
Philip Reeve. Larklight; Mortal Engines series
Katherine Rundell. Rooftoppers
Chris Ryan. Alpha Force series
Louis Sachar. Holes
Angie Sage. Septimus Flyte series
Brian Selznick. The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Ian Seraillier. The Silver Sword
Justin Somper. Vampirates series
Rebecca Stead. Liar and Spy
JRR Tolkein. The Hobbit
Eleanor Updale. Montmorency series
Years 7/8 Recommended ReadingRichard Adams. Watership Down
Malorie Blackman. Noughts and Crosses
John Boyne. Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Anne Cassidy. Looking for JJ
Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes
Gillian Cross. After Tomorrow
Joseph Delaney. Spook’s Apprentice series
Deborah Ellis. The Breadwinner
Anne Fine. The Tulip Touch, Flour Babies
Cornelia Funke. Thief Lord; Inkheart
Sally Gardner. I Coriander; The Red Necklace
Jamila Gavin. Coram Boy
Morris Gleitzman. Two Weeks with the Queen
Julia Golding. Diamond of Drury Lane
Michael Grant. Gone
Mark Haddon. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night
Frances Hardinge. Fly By Night
Mary Hooper. At the Sign of the Sugared Plum [and others]
Judith Kerr. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Michelle Magorian. Goodnight Mr Tom
Adeline Yen Mah. Chinese Cinderella
Geraldine McCaughrean. The Kite Rider
Ian McEwan. Day Dreamer
Michael Morpurgo. Private Peaceful
William Nicholson. Wind Singer series
RJ Palacio. Wonder
Christopher Paolini. Eragon
Anabel Pitcher. My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece
Terry Pratchett. Johnny and the Bomb
Philip Pullman. Northern Lights; Ruby in the Smoke series
Philip Reeve. Here Lies Arthur
Alex Scarrow. Time Riders series
Mildred Taylor. Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry
JRR Tolkein. Lord of the Rings
Sue Townsend. Secret Diary of Adrian Mole
Jeanette Winterson. Tanglewreck
Marcus Zusack. The Book Thief
Library FAQWhen can I use the library?You can use the library before school, at break-time, lunchtime and after school as well as during your timetabled library session in lesson time.
Junior/Senior school students should sign in if using the library after school. Younger children should not use the library outside school hours unless accompanied by a parent.
Parents are welcome in the library before and after school.
How do I borrow books?Your library card is your school ID card in your lanyard.
How many books can I borrow and for how long?Years 3–6 : two items for two weeks. Years 7–9 : four items for four weeks.
How do I find a book I want? We have an online catalogue called Destiny. You can access it on a computer in school or at home at http://dcsg.follettdestiny.com/
It is also listed on the Student Portal. You may also like to install and use the free app, Destiny Quest, on an iPad or mobile device.
You can use the catalogue as a Guest or log in to your own library
account using your computer user name (first-name.surname) and your Log On (the numbers on your ID card without the zeroes).
You can search the catalogue by author, title, subject or keyword. You can also reserve books, post book reviews and even recommend books to friends in school. We have created a number of Resource/Reading Lists on the catalogue you can search to find recommendations of books by genre, year group and subject.
You could also check out our Library Pinterest Board www.pinterest.com/DCSGLibrary for reading recommendations. We welcome any suggestions you may have for improvements or books we should buy.
Can I use the computers?If you wish to use a computer, laptop or iPad it must be for research, schoolwork, homework or revision purposes, not games or social media.
You should sign up to use a computer at the main library desk. Please be aware that the library computer use is monitored and students misusing them risk having their access in the library withdrawn.
Years 9 Recommended ReadingDouglas Adams. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice; Emma Malorie Blackman. Noughts and Crosses; Boys Don’t Cry; Noble Conflict Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre Kevin Brooks. iBoy; Bunker DiaryJohn Buchan. The Thirty-Nine Steps Anne Cassidy. Looking for JJ and others Jung Chang. Wild Swans Robert Cormier. The Chocolate War; I Am the Cheese Roald Dahl. Skin and other stories; Tales of the Unexpected Berlie Doherty. Dear Nobody Jennifer Donnelly. A Gathering Light Daphne Du Maurier. Rebecca David Eddings. Belgariad series F Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby John Flanagan. Ranger’s Apprentice series Alan Gibbons. The EdgeWilliam Golding. Lord of the Flies John Green. Fault In Our Stars; Paper Towns; Will GraysonGraham Greene. Brighton Rock Thomas Hardy. Tess of the d’Urbervilles Liam Hearn. Tales of the Otori series Susan Hill. I’m the King of the Castle; Woman in Black SE Hinton. The Outsiders Aldous Huxley. Brave New World Jerome K Jerome. Three Men in a Boat
Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird Laurie Lee. Cider With Rosie Yann Martel. Life of PiAnthony McGowan. The Knife That Killed Me Beverley Naidoo. Other Side of Truth Patrick Ness. The Knife of Never Letting Go [Chaos Walking trilogy]George Orwell. Animal Farm; 1984 Christopher Paolini. The Inheritance Cycle series Mervyn Peake. Gormenghast trilogy Annabel Pitcher. Ketchup Clouds Morton Rhue. The Wave Meg Rosoff. How I Live Now [and others]JD Salinger. The Catcher in the Rye Marcus Sedgwick. Revolver; My Swordhand is Singing; Blood Red, Snow White Mary Shelley. Frankenstein Alexie Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time IndianDodie Smith. I Capture the Castle John Steinbeck. Of Mice and Men RL Stevenson. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Bram Stoker. Dracula Jonathan Swift. Gulliver’s Travels Jules Verne. Journey to the Centre of the Earth HG Wells. War of the Worlds; Time Machine PG Wodehouse. Jeeves & Wooster series John Wyndham. The Day of the Triffids; Chrysalids Rick Yancey. The 5th Wave series