Here’s my book recommendations for KS4, compiled with books that I’ve enjoyed reading recently, some old, some new, some classic, some YA.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
“Stories are a way to preserve one’s self. To be remembered. And to forget.”
I read this book at the recommendation of one of my wonderful Year 10 students recently, and instantly fell in love. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue tells the Faustian story of a girl who makes a deal with the devil. As a result, she will live forever, but be instantly forgotten by everyone she meets as soon as she leaves their sight. Unable to form lasting connections or have meaningful relationships, Addie lingers through the centuries, attempting to discover what is the purpose of a life which cannot leave a mark upon the world.
Recommended for people who like fantasy, romance, historical novels and poetic writing.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
“Human beings have a remarkable ability to accept the abnormal and make it normal.”
Wow, what a book! Project Hail Mary is written by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian. It’s also been rumoured that Project Hail Mary is planned to be turned into a film with Ryan Gosling. Sold already?
The plot sounds far-fetched when I try to summarise this story, but the execution is just so perfect that you’re hooked the whole way along. After a sun-eating bacteria infect our solar system, humanity must find a way to rid themselves of this space bacteria or face the reality of a dying sun. Junior high school teacher, Ryland Grace finds himself dragged into the scientific mission to solve this problem, which leads him on a journey across the galaxies. I’ll stop there, as I don’t want to spoil anything, but the story become so much more than this.
Recommended for… anyone, honestly. Even if you think you don’t like sci-fi, I think you’ll like this book. If you enjoy great characters, fast-paced stories, adventure, mystery, friendship, science and problem solving, give Project Hail Mary a try.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
I read the Achebe’s African Trilogy, of which Things Fall Apart is the first book, in a frenzy a couple of years ago and have found that it is a story that has stuck with me long after I read the last page. This novel is often seen as the archetypal African novel and is the first to garner massive international acclaim.
Things Fall Apart transports the reader to the time of pre-colonial life in Nigeria before European settlers destroyed the way of life in Nigerian communities. Okonkwo is a famed wrestling champion and a powerful voice within the tribe. We see Okonkwo’s life as it was, the traditions, the festivals, the food, the language, the religion and all of the nuances of day-to-day life in the community. Then, one day, Okonkwo learns of white men visiting the nearby village introducing Christianity. From there, it all begins to unravel.
Recommended for people who enjoy stories of family, drama and history.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
“When a monster stopped behaving like a monster, did it stop being a monster? Did it become something else?”
I read Graceling at a time when I wasn’t feeling great and thought it was the perfect antidote to stress. Easy to read and with lovable characters, Cashore knows how to draw you into a comforting fantasy world.
If you enjoyed books like Shadow and Bone or Harry Potter, I think that your next read should be Graceling. This YA fantasy novel has it all: a cut-throat protagonist, a magical world to explore, a romance and an evil enemy that must be defeated. In this world, some are born graced, exceptionally skilled. You could be a graced fighter, a graced chef, or even a graced mind-reader. Our protagonist, Katsa, is a graced killer at the mercy of her uncle, the King, who uses her as his personal weapon
Recommended for people who enjoy adventure, mystery, romance and a magical world you can get lost in.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
“We’re more than the sum total of our choices, that all the paths we might have taken factor somehow into the math of our identity.”
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch is such a fun book to read. It’s perfect for if you’re in a reading slump, finding it difficult to concentrate on a book, and want something to make you love reading again. It’s a little corny and a little silly – but that’s the magic of Dark Matter. And don’t worry – it’s not a very scientific read and there are no aliens, so even if you don’t usually read sci-fi, I think you might enjoy this book.
This sci-fi book explores the idea of the multiverse theory and parallel universes in a fast-paced narrative that explores how the smallest choices in our lives can have massive consequences. Jason Dessen, a physicist and college professor, is kidnapped one night by a mysterious person and finds himself pulled into a world that is not his own.
Recommended for people who enjoy face-paced adventurous stories and light sci-fi.
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