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Children's reading lists

16 laugh-out-loud funny books for 9-12-year-olds

A selection of gaming books on a blue old school Super Mario Bros style background

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8 awesome books for gaming fans

Worst. Holiday. Ever.

A hilarious new book from the bestselling children's author - Adrian Mole for the new generation! 
 
*'Made me cry with laughter and my heart ache' Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy* 
 
*'Funniest. Book. Ever' Ross Welford, author of Time Travelling with a Hamster* 
 
 
Stan is going on holiday to Italy with his (fifth) best friend Felix and a load of strangers. 
 
Stan is absolutely terrified. 
 
Luckily, his mum's given him an emergency list that includes how to survive a shark attack, and what to do if he gets kidnapped. 
 
Stan thinks that a better list would include how to cope with odd food, and what to do if he accidentally calls Felix's mum 'mum' in front of everybody. 
 
And it soon turns out Italy is full of dangers and things that can go wrong. 
 
One thing's for certain, Stan's not going to come back the same boy he left. He just hope he comes back at all . . . 
 
Worst. Holiday. Ever is a story about facing fears, dealing with worries, and how it's OK to be anxious, scared, and sometimes a little bit brave.

Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy

Ross Welford, author of Time Travelling with a Hamster

Charlie Higson started writing when he was ten years old. After university he was a singer and painter and decorator before he started writing for television. He went on to create and star in the hugely successful comedy series The Fast Show. He is the author of the bestselling Young Bond books and the incredibly successful horror series, The Enemy. 
 
Charlie doesn't do Facebook, but you can tweet him @monstroso.

Stan is going on holiday to Italy with his (fifth) best friend Felix and a load of strangers. 
 
Stan is absolutely terrified. 
 
Luckily, his mum's given him an emergency list that includes how to survive a shark attack, and what to do if he gets kidnapped. 
 
Stan thinks that a better list would include how to cope with odd food, and what to do if he accidentally calls Felix's mum 'mum' in front of everybody. 
 
And it soon turns out Italy is full of dangers and things that can go wrong. One thing's for certain, Stan's not going to come back the same boy he left. He just hope he comes back at all . . . 
 
Worst. Holiday. Ever is a story about facing fears, dealing with worries, and how it's OK to be anxious, scared, and sometimes a little bit brave.

Abridged Edition

Penguin Readers Level 1: Silverfin (ELT Graded Reader)

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online. 
 
Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. 
 
The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers' story comprehension and develop vocabulary. 
 
Visit the Penguin Readers website 
Exclusively with the print edition, readers can unlock online resources including a digital book, audio edition, lesson plans and answer keys. 
 
On Loch SilverFin in Scotland, a bad man lives in a castle with his son. James Bond and his new friend Red Kelly go to the castle. They must find Red's missing cousin, Alfie. But what do they find in the castle? Do they find Alfie, or is it too late?

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction. 
 
Silverfin, a Level 1 Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the past simple tense and some simple modals, adverbs and gerunds. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels. 
 
On Loch SilverFin in Scotland, a bad man lives in a castle with his son. James Bond and his new friend Red Kelly go to the castle. They must find Red's missing cousin, Alfie. But what do they find in the castle? Do they find Alfie, or is it too late?

Doctor Who: Thirteen Doctors 13 Stories

A new version of this much-loved anthology, with a brand-new story featuring the brand-new Thirteenth Doctor from literary sensation Naomi Alderman! 
 
Twelve wonderful tales of adventure, science, magic, monsters and time travel - featuring all twelve Doctors - are waiting for you in this very special Doctor Who book. 
 
And now they're joined by a very exciting, and very exclusive, new tale - written by Naomi Alderman, author of The Power - that will star the Thirteenth Doctor, as she battles to save the universe with her three close and trusted friends. 
 
Other authors featured are: Eoin Colfer, Michael Scott, Marcus Sedgwick, Philip Reeve, Patrick Ness, Richelle Mead, Malorie Blackman, Alex Scarrow, Charlie Higson, Derek Landy, Neil Gaiman, and Holly Black.

The Enemy Series, Books 1-3

The sickness struck everyone over fourteen. First it twisted their minds, next it ravaged their bodies, now they roam the streets - crazed and hungry. A jaw-dropping zombie horror series for teens.

They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you . . . 
 
The Enemy (Book 1) 
 
When the sickness came, every parent, police officer, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. 
 
Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. 
 
A gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. 
 
The Dead (Book 2) 
 
Jack and Ed are best friends, but their battle to stay alive tests their friendship to the limit as they go on the run with a mismatched group of other kids. And one adult. Greg, a butcher, who claims he's immune to the disease. 
 
As a fresh disaster threatens to overwhelm London, they realize they won't all survive... 
 
The Fear (Book 3) 
 
DogNut and the rest of his crew want to find their lost friends, and set off on a deadly mission from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace and beyond, as the sickos lie in wait. But who are their friends and who is the enemy in this changed world?

They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you . . . 
 
The Enemy (Book 1) 
 
When the sickness came, every parent, police officer, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. 
 
 Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. 
 
 A gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. 
 
The Dead (Book 2) 
 
Jack and Ed are best friends, but their battle to stay alive tests their friendship to the limit as they go on the run with a mismatched group of other kids. And one adult. Greg, a butcher, who claims he's immune to the disease. 
 
 As a fresh disaster threatens to overwhelm London, they realize they won't all survive... 
 
The Fear (Book 3) 
 
DogNut and the rest of his crew want to find their lost friends, and set off on a deadly mission from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace and beyond, as the sickos lie in wait. But who are their friends and who is the enemy in this changed world?

The Enemy Series, Books 4-6

They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you . . . 
 
The Sacrifice (Book 4) 
 
Small Sam and his unlikely ally, The Kid, have survived. They're safe with Ed and his friends at the Tower of London, but Sam is desperate to find his sister. 
 
Their search for Ella means Sam and The Kid must cross the forbidden zone. And what awaits them there is more terrifying than any of the horror they've suffered so far . . . 
 
The Fallen (Book 5) 
 
The Holloway crew are survivors. They've fought their way across London and made it to the Natural History Museum alive - just. But the fight will never end while the Enemy lives . . . 
 
The kids at the museum are looking for a cure. All they need are medical supplies. To get them means a journey down unknown roads. Suddenly it's not so clear who - or what - they're fighting. 
 
The Hunted (Book 6) 
 
The others had promised that the countryside would be safer than the city. They were wrong. Now Ella's all-alone except for her silent rescuer, Scarface - and she's not even sure if he's a kid or a grown-up. 
 
Back in London, Ed's determined to find her. But getting out of town's never been more dangerous- because coming in the other direction is every SICKO in the country.

They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you . . . 
 
The Sacrifice (Book 4) 
 
 Small Sam and his unlikely ally, The Kid, have survived. They're safe with Ed and his friends at the Tower of London, but Sam is desperate to find his sister. 
 
 Their search for Ella means Sam and The Kid must cross the forbidden zone. And what awaits them there is more terrifying than any of the horror they've suffered so far . . . 
 
The Fallen (Book 5) 
 
The Holloway crew are survivors. They've fought their way across London and made it to the Natural History Museum alive - just. But the fight will never end while the Enemy lives . . . 
 
The kids at the museum are looking for a cure. All they need are medical supplies. To get them means a journey down unknown roads. Suddenly it's not so clear who - or what - they're fighting. 
 
The Hunted (Book 6) 
 
The others had promised that the countryside would be safer than the city. They were wrong. Now Ella's all-alone except for her silent rescuer, Scarface - and she's not even sure if he's a kid or a grown-up. 
 
 Back in London, Ed's determined to find her. But getting out of town's never been more dangerous- because coming in the other direction is every SICKO in the country.

The End (The Enemy Book 7)

It all comes to an end in the final book in The Enemy series 
 
 
The sickness struck everyone over fourteen. 
First it twisted their minds. 
Next it ravaged their bodies. 
Now they roam the streets - 
Crazed and hungry. 
 
Sickos swarm the streets of London. Gathered in the centre of the city, they lie in wait. 
 
The survivors have one final epic battle to overcome. Together they must work out a plan of attack and end the grown-ups reign of terror before it's too late. 
 
The end is coming.

Praise for The Enemy series: 'Brutal, blood-soaked, full of zombies . . . it's ace'

Lord of the Flies with zombies . . . tons of nail-biting action!

The sickness struck everyone over fourteen. 
First it twisted their minds. 
Next it ravaged their bodies. 
Now they roam the streets - 
Crazed and hungry. 
 
Sickos swarm the streets of London. Gathered in the centre of the city, they lie in wait. 
 
The survivors have one final epic battle to overcome. Together they must work out a plan of attack and end the grown-ups reign of terror before it's too late. 
 
The end is coming.

Charlie Higson

Stan has found himself a starring role as superhero in a popular TV show. 
 
He&rsquo;s absolutely terrified. 
 
After surviving a holiday to Italy without his parents (which included jellyfish and giant watermelons), Stan reckons he deserves a bit of a break. Or at a least a break in between trying to act in his school play. 
 
But when he&rsquo;s offered the chance to take a tour around a TV studio, he thinks it can&rsquo;t do any harm. 
 
How wrong he is. 
 
Before Stan can say &lsquo;Boy of Steel&rsquo; he&rsquo;s landed himself a part as a main character in one of the most well-known TV shows there is &ndash; as a brainy superhero. 
 
Convinced he&rsquo;s going to embarrass himself in front of millions of people &ndash; and worried about leaving his friends to face a school play on their own &ndash; can Stan find a way to use his new-found fame for good? 
 
Or will he be the Worst. Superhero. Ever . . .

Charlie Higson

Books by Charlie Higson

Series by Charlie Higson

Doctor Who45 Books

Doctor Who: 50th Anniversary Short Stories11 Books

The Enemy10 Books

Worst. Holiday. Ever.2 Books

Young Bond5 Books

Young Bond Graphic Novels1 Book

Articles featuring Charlie Higson

16 laugh-out-loud funny books for 9-12-year-olds

8 awesome books for gaming fans

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