Is your child currently sitting for the 11+ exam? Are you worried about the books they need to read?

Here are some books your child can use to prepare for the examination.

Classics

1. Swallows & Amazons by Arthur Ransome: The Swallows and Amazons series of twelve children's books by the English author Arthur Ransome takes its name from the title of the first book in the series. The twelve books, set in the interwar period, involve group adventures by children, mainly in the school holidays and mainly in England.

2. The Borrowers by Mary Norton: The Borrowers is a children's fantasy novel by the English author Mary Norton, published by Dent in 1952. It features a family of tiny people who live secretly in the walls and floors of an English house and "borrow" from the big people in order to survive.

3. Stig of the Dump by Clive King: First published in 1963, the novel tells the story of a young boy named Barney who finds a caveman called Stig living in a dump at the bottom of a chalk pit, near his home.

4. Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce: Tom is a modern boy living under quarantine with his aunt and uncle in a city flat, part of a converted building that was a country house during the 1880s–1890s. At night he slips back in time to the old garden where he finds a girl playmate, called Hatty. Hatty is a princess or so she says.

5. The Borrowers Afield by Mary Norton: "The Borrowers Afield" by Mary Norton is about how these tiny creatures who are like humans, just fifty times smaller run for their lives. When Kate is interested in the town’s legends, she looks in to it by asking the elderly the true tales of the borrowers. She finds out a lot about them, and she even gets her hands on one of their diaries.

6. Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy: The novel is set in an impoverished rural England, Thomas Hardy's fictional Wessex, during the Long Depression of the 1870s. Tess is the oldest child of John and Joan Durbeyfield, uneducated peasants. However, John is given the impression by Parson Tringham that he may have noble blood, as "Durbeyfield" is a corruption of "D'Urberville", the surname of an extinct noble Norman family. Knowledge of this immediately goes to John's head.

7. The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell: The Road to Wigan Pier is a book by the English writer George Orwell, first published in 1937. The first half of this work documents his sociological investigations of the bleak living conditions among the working class in Lancashire and Yorkshire in the industrial north of England before World War II.

8. Kipps by HG Wells: The Story of a Simple Soul is a novel by H. G. Wells, first published in 1905. Humorous yet sympathetic, the perceptive social novel is generally regarded as a masterpiece, and it was his own favourite work. It was adapted for stage, cinema and television productions, and as the musical Half a Sixpence.

9. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an 1876 novel by Mark Twain about a young boy growing up along the Mississippi River. It is set in the 1840s in the town of St. Petersburg, which is based on Hannibal, Missouri where Twain lived as a boy. In the novel Tom Sawyer has several adventures, often with his friend Huckleberry Finn.

10. The Mill on the Floss by George Elliot: Mill on the Floss is said to be a semi biographical novel by George Elliot. The story is said to resemble some of her own struggles and her deep attachment and yearn for approval of her brother. Among the various themes of the book, sibling love between Tom and Maggie and Maggie's constant struggle to win the wholehearted love and acceptance of her brother were the strongest.

11. Tobermory by H.H. Munro: Tobermory is one of Saki’s (H. H. Munro) best known short stories. Toby is a cat that learns to speak human to everyone's amazement.

12. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre is a Bildungsroman which follows the experiences of its eponymous heroine, including her growth to adulthood and her love for Mr. Rochester, the brooding master of Thornfield Hall. The novel revolutionised prose fiction by being the first to focus on its protagonist's moral and spiritual development through an intimate first-person narrative.

13. Great Northern: Great Northern is the twelfth and final completed book of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series of children's books. It was published in 1947. In this book, the three families of major characters in the series, the Swallows, the Amazons and the Ds, are all reunited in a book for the first time since Pigeon Post.

14. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart – A thrilling and clever adventure following a group of gifted children who must go undercover at a secretive institution to stop a sinister plot. It’s packed with puzzles, intrigue, and excitement, making it a fantastic choice for adventure lovers.

15. The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge: Set in 1842, it features a recently orphaned teenage girl who is sent to the manor house of her cousin and guardian in the West Country of England. The estate, village, and vicinity are shrouded in mystery and magic; the "little white horse" is a unicorn.

Action & Adventure

16. Holes by Louis Sachar: After a miscarriage of justice, Stanley gets sent to a juvenile detention centre where he is required to dig a deep hole every day. Please note that the book does contain violence including murder.

17. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz: They told him his uncle died in an accident. He wasn't wearing his seatbelt, they said. But when fourteen-year-old Alex finds his uncle's windshield riddled with bullet holes, he knows it was no accident. What he doesn't know yet is that his uncle was killed while on a top-secret mission. But he is about to, and once he does, there is no turning back.

18. Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce: Millions tells the story of Damian (Alex Etel), a 9-year-old Catholic school boy, whose family moves to the suburbs of Widnes after the death of his mother.

19. Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz: Point Blanc was published in the United Kingdom in 2001, and in North America in 2002 under the alternate title Point Blank. After the deaths of two billionaires, MI6 discovers a connection: the two men who died each had a son attending Point Blanc, a school for rebellious sons of billionaires located in the French Alps, owned by a scientist named Dr. Hugo Grief.

20. The Terrible Two by Jory John: Miles is the best prankster in his hometown, so when he reluctantly moves to a new home, he has to prove himself. Only, there’s already a capable prankster there and a war between the two breaks out to see who is best.

21. Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz: Skeleton Key was published in 2002. After foiling a Triad plot to fix the 2001 Wimbledon tennis tournament by knocking out one of their members with a carbon dioxide tank, Alex is in grave danger of assassination. Forced to leave the country, MI6 sends him on a mission to Cuba with two CIA agents (who believes that he isn't helpful), where he is the only one of the three to survive.

22. Eagle Strike by Anthony Horowitz: Damian Cray, a world-famous pop star, hopes to destroy the world's drug-making countries by hijacking the United States' nuclear arsenal. Suspicious of him, Alex takes Cray on without the help of the skeptical MI6. Cray releases a state-of-the-art games console called the 'Gameslayer'. Its first game, 'Feathered Serpent', is much more than it seems. It is up to Alex to discover the connection between the pop star, the video game, and the bombing of his vacation home.

23. Scorpia by Anthony Horowitz: Scorpia was published in 2004. Following the advice of the assassin Yassen Gregorovich, Alex tries to find the criminal organization "Scorpia" to find out the truth about his father. He is soon recruited by Scorpia and trains as an assassin where he discovers that he will assassinate Mrs Jones.

24. Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz: Ark Angel, published in 2005, follows Alex's second mission for the C.I.A. After nearly dying from being shot with a sniper rifle (courtesy to the criminal organization Scorpia), he investigates Nikolei Drevin who builds a hotel in outer space called "Ark Angel". Drevin secretly tries to destroy Washington D.C., the capital of the U.S. and targets the Pentagon, hoping to destroy files on him that the US have acquired. Alex is forced to go into space and destroy Ark Angel

25. Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz: Snakehead was published in 2007. Taking place immediately after Ark Angel, the novel sees Alex recruited by ASIS, Australia's secret service, to infiltrate a Snakehead organization by posing as an Afghan refugee. Alex meets his godfather, Ash (Anthony Sean Howell), and confronts the organization Scorpia for the second time.

26. Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz: Snakehead was published in 2007. Taking place immediately after Ark Angel, the novel sees Alex recruited by ASIS, Australia's secret service, to infiltrate a Snakehead organization by posing as an Afghan refugee. Alex meets his godfather, Ash (Anthony Sean Howell), and confronts the organization Scorpia for the second time. He learns that Ash was actually working with Scorpia and Major Winston Yu (the main antagonist) and then escapes from the trap.

27. Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz: Scorpia Rising was published in 2011. In the book, Scorpia is hired by Greek trillionaire Yannis Ariston Xenopolos to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece. Scorpia's plan includes the laying of a false trail to Cairo, Egypt and blackmailing MI6 into returning the Marbles.

28. Russian Roulette by Anthony Horowitz: Roulette was published in 2013. It is told from the point of view of the infamous contract killer, Yassen Gregorovich. It is set from Yassen's childhood to his first two murders. It starts in a small Russian village, but continues with a deadly poison accidentally spreading through the city. Yassen's parents, who were forced to help create it, give him an elixir that will make him immune to the disease.

29. Never Say Die by Anthony Horowitz: Never Say Die was published in June 2017 with a US release in October 2017. After the events of Scorpia Rising, Alex is left traumatised from the death of his caregiver and close friend, Jack Starbright. After being given a glimmer of hope about her survival, through an unknown email, Alex is thrust into the horrors of his past in a battle to recover his friend from the dead.

30. Nightshade by Anthony Horowitz: It follows Alex in a battle against a new criminal organisation Nightshade (after the death of Scorpia) which Mrs Jones had been reading a document about at the end of Never Say Die.

31. Skellig by David Almond: Twelve years old Michael, and his family, have recently moved into a house. He and his parents are nervous, as his new baby sister was born earlier than expected, and may not live because of a heart condition.

32. The Humiliations of Welton Blake by Alex Wheatle: Welton Blake has done it! He's asked out Carmella McKenzie - the best-looking girl in school - and she's only gone and said yes! But just as he thinks his luck is starting to change, Welton's phone breaks, kick-starting a series of unfortunate and humiliating events.

33. Nowhere boy by Ka therine Marsh: It tells the tale of a 14-year-old boy named Ahmed, who is stuck as a Syrian refugee in Belgium. Lost, alone, and with no one who can help, Ahmed loses hope that life will get better. He then meets Max, a homesick American boy. With an exciting discovery, their lives intertwine. Together they face the world and learn what it means to be brave.

34. Front Desk by Kelly Yang: Mia Tang is not like other girls. For one she lives in a motel and manages its front desk. Also, her parents hide immigrants in the hotel and her family could be in a universe of trouble if they’re ever caught. Mia wants to be a writer, but her mother won’t allow it. This is Mia’s story of her secret life.

35. The war that saved my life by Kimberly Bruberker: Set in World War II, 10-year-old Ada is housebound and has never experienced the outside world. She’s not allowed to, because her mother is too ashamed of her misshapen foot. When her brother is deployed in the war, Ada seizes the moment and sneaks out to join him. She’s taken in by a woman who has no choice but to care for her. Ada’s life improves as she learns about life and the world

36. Goosebumps by L. stine: L. Stine’s genre-defining spooky stories for children have stood the test of time. They’re fun, easy to read.

37. The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glasser: The Vanderbeekers have always lived in their family home and they have no intention of leaving. When their unpleasant landlord blindsides them by not renewing their lease, they decide to fight for what’s theirs.

38. The crossover by Kwame Alexander: Josh and his twin brother are skilled on the basketball court. But Josh has a passion for music too. He tells us about life on and off the courts, brotherhood, and family.

39. The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez: Malu, 12 years old, is half Mexican and half punk-rocker. She’s not afraid to express herself, but her school (and mother) don’t approve. She chooses to follow her father’s advice: be yourself.

Fantasy

40. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse. Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him.

41. Out of mind by Sharon M Draper: Melody is an 11-year-old with cerebral palsy. She can’t walk, talk, write or do any of the things normal children can. She has a gift though: she can’t forget anything.She’s the smartest kid in her whole school, but because of her disability, no one knows.

42. Winterhouse by Ben Gutterson: Her mean aunt and uncle ship her off to the spooky Winterhouse Hotel against her will. But when she arrives there, she discovers she likes it. Charmed by it, she stumbles upon a magical book of puzzles that open up a mystery surrounding the hotel.

43. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger: Tommy (a sixth grader) launches an investigation into his classmate’s mysterious Yoda finger puppet. His peer, Dwight, is the exact opposite of Yoda, but when he voices Yoda he is suddenly wise, prophetic, and a genius.

44. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien: The Hobbit is set within Tolkien's fictional universe and follows the quest of home-loving Bilbo Baggins, the titular hobbit, to win a share of the treasure guarded by Smaug the dragon. Bilbo's journey takes him from light-hearted, rural surroundings into more sinister territory.

45. Circus Mirandus by CASSIE BEASLEY: Even though his awful Great-Aunt Gertrudis doesn’t approve, Micah believes in the stories his dying Grandpa Ephraim tells him of the magical Circus Mirandus: the invisible tiger guarding the gates, the beautiful flying birdwoman, and the magician more powerful than any other—the Man Who Bends Light.

46. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel by the English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, the world at some distant time in the past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's book The Hobbit.

47. Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve: Mortal Engines is a young-adult science fantasy novel by Philip Reeve, published by Scholastic UK in 2001. The book focuses on a futuristic, steampunk version of London, now a giant machine striving to survive on a world running out of resources.

48. Northern Lights by Philip Pullman: Northern Lights is a young-adult fantasy novel by Philip Pullman, published in 1995 by Scholastic UK. Set in a parallel universe, it features the journey of Lyra Belacqua to the Arctic in search of her missing friend, Roger Parslow, and her imprisoned uncle, Lord Asriel, who has been conducting experiments with a mysterious substance known as "Dust".

49. Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman: The series is speculative fiction describing an alternative history in which native African people had colonised the European people, rather than the other way around, with Africans having made Europeans their slaves. The series takes place in an alternative 21st-century Britain.

50. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Colins: It is written in the voice of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in the future, post-apocalyptic nation of Panem in North America. The Capitol, a highly advanced metropolis, exercises political control over the rest of the nation.

51. Brand New Boy by David Almond – When a new boy joins the class, everyone thinks he’s a bit strange, but he’s brilliant at football and loves crisps, and that’s all that matters to Dan and Maxie. However, the truth about George is stranger than anyone could have imagined… and more sinister, too.

52. The Good Bear by Sarah Lean – A heartwarming story that takes you on an unforgettable adventure. "Gently, I pushed my fingers into his fur, through the roughness of his outer protective coat, deep into the warmest finer hair. His heart beat powerfully and slow."

53. The Danger Gang by Tom Fletcher – The exciting new adventure from the bestselling author of The Christmasaurus and The Creakers! Franky can't wait to move to his new town – although he wishes he didn’t have to leave his best friend Dani behind.

54. Across the Risen Sea by Bren MacDibble – A thrilling middle-grade adventure novel set in a small island community surrounded by a rising sea.

55. When the World Was Ours by Liz Kessler – A striking Holocaust story set in Vienna in the 1930s, following the fortunes of three friends over the following years.

56. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis – This classic begins when Lucy steps through a wardrobe and discovers the magical world of Narnia.

57. Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia by C. S. Lewis – Four children return to Narnia to help Prince Caspian and his army of talking beasts free the land from evil.

58. Charlie Hernández and the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo – Charlie Hernández loves his Latin American heritage and folklore, though he never believed the magical tales were real—until he starts experiencing them himself.

59. Darwin's Dragons by Lindsay Galvin – Cabin boy Syms Covington embarks on the voyage of a lifetime to the Galápagos Islands with Charles Darwin. When Syms falls overboard during a storm, he washes up on an unexplored island.

60. The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan – Will has always feared the Rangers, believing they practice dark magic. But when he is chosen as an apprentice, he learns they are the kingdom’s protectors—and he must help in the battle between good and evil.

61. Future Friend by David Baddiel – A young girl accidentally time-travels from the year 3020 to 2019, where she meets Rahul Agarwal, a genius inventor.

62. See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng – Space-obsessed Alex dreams of following in Carl Sagan’s footsteps. He sets out to document a story he will launch into space, hoping extraterrestrials will understand life on Earth.

63. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale – Miri lives in a quiet village until the king declares it the home of the next princess. In a year, the prince will choose his bride from the village girls, and Miri has a chance to achieve her dreams.

Mystery

64. How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff – A powerful story about Daisy, a New Yorker, and her English cousin Edmond, who are torn apart when war breaks out in London.

65. Captain Superlative by J. S. Puller – Janey is eager to uncover the identity of a mysterious superhero at her school. In doing so, she not only befriends Captain Superlative but also becomes her sidekick.

66. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes – A 12-year-old boy, Jerome, is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real one. Now a ghost, Jerome watches how his death impacts his family and community.

67. Greetings from Witness Protection! by Jake Burt – A girl in witness protection must hide her identity while navigating the challenges of a new school and family life.

68. Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy – Jennifer Jones spent six years in an institution for a serious crime. Now released with a new identity, she struggles to escape her past.

69. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon – Christopher Boone, a brilliant teenager with autism, sets out to solve the mystery of his neighbour’s murdered dog.

70. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith – Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain lives in an old castle with her eccentric family. Despite their poverty, she dreams of a brighter future.

71. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne – Nine-year-old Bruno is unaware of the horrors of war surrounding him, including his father’s role as a commandant at a concentration camp.

72. Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin – A tale of tradition, corruption, and coming of age, following Otis, who takes babies and money from desperate mothers, promising to deliver them to the Coram Foundling Hospital in London.

73. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness – Todd and Viola flee across New World, pursued by those seeking to control them, as they uncover dark secrets about their colony.

74. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – Nobody "Bod" Owens is raised in a graveyard by supernatural beings after his family is murdered.

75. Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick – Sig, alone in a remote Arctic cabin, is confronted by a mysterious stranger who claims to have unfinished business with his dead father.

76. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison – A humorous diary of British teenager Georgia Nicolson, filled with embarrassing moments, friendships, and first love.

77. The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean – Set in 13th-century China, young Gou Haoyou is forced to fly on a wind-testing kite after his father’s tragic death.

78. Junk by Melvin Burgess – A gritty, realistic portrayal of teenage runaways in 1980s England, exploring love, rebellion, and addiction.

79. Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet – Clem and Frankie’s first love unfolds against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

80. Watership Down by Richard Adams – A group of rabbits embark on a perilous journey to find a new home, led by the visionary Fiver.

81. The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman – Sixteen-year-old Sally Lockhart investigates the mysterious death of her father in Victorian London.

82. A Secret of Birds and Bone by Kiran Millwood Hargrave – Sofia Fiori lives in a house built from golden bones in Siena, Italy, where her mother carves mementoes from the bones of the dead.

83. Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens – When a murder occurs at Deepdean School for Girls, young detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set out to solve the case.

84. Otter’s Moon by Susanna Bailey – Luke, stuck on a remote Scottish island for the summer, discovers the magic of nature and healing.

85. Arsenic for Tea by Robin Stevens – Schoolgirl detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong attend a tea party that turns deadly.

86. The Murderer’s Ape by Jakob Wegelius – Sally Jones, an intelligent gorilla, must find evidence to prove her captain’s innocence.