Genres
The big rooms of fiction. Ten books each, chosen to show the range.
Thriller
Want something fast-paced, where the pressure only ever goes up? Emotions run high and plot twists abound in these page-turners, the kind you'll stay up far too late to finish.
10 books
Horror
The world is full of scary things: some known, some unknown, some very well hidden. From psychological unravellings to desperate fights for survival, horror scratches an itch and comes away bloody.
10 books
Romance
All you need is love, or so the song goes. Romance puts that to the test, from love on the battlefield to first dates to divorce, and asks what it takes to make it last.
10 books
Seen On Screen
From Pride and Prejudice to Harry Potter, some books were destined for the screen. Read the stories that film and TV brought to life, and discover what the page can do that the screen can't.
10 books
Crime
Readers have been hooked on detectives, villains and murder mysteries for nearly two centuries. Find books from light to dark, with historical, YA and noir thrown in for good measure. Whodunnit? There's only one way to find out.
10 books
Science Fiction
What will the future look like, and who will we be when we get there? Science fiction asks big questions through fantastic settings, from far-flung galaxies to alien invasions and medical marvels.
10 books
Classics
To some, a classic is a book that has stood the test of time, still read decades or even centuries after it was written. To others, the word strikes fear into the heart as "hard to read". Explore the list and decide for yourself.
10 books
Fantasy
If you think fantasy is all orcs and elves, you're missing out. Step into worlds where magic is real, dragons might be friendly, and the fate of everything can rest on the smallest shoulders.
10 books
Cosy
Ever wanted a book you can curl up in, full of charming characters and satisfying moments, even if someone dies? From sleepy English villages to an orphanage by the sea, cosy has a place for you.
10 books
Dystopian
Explore societies that have gone badly wrong, where power has twisted the world into something unjust or terrifying. Dystopias hold up a mirror to our own world and ask the uncomfortable questions.
10 books
Literary
Literary fiction can bridge genres, outgrow them or defy them altogether. With ambitious prose and a philosophical eye, these books take on the timeless questions: who we are, what we owe each other, and why it matters.
10 books
Epistolary
What better way to understand a character than to read their thoughts in their own words? Told through letters, diaries and documents, these stories let you read over the writer's shoulder.
10 books
Award Winners
Surely one easy trick to find a great read is to pick one that's won a prize? We look at ten literary awards, the books they celebrate and what they tell us about which stories are deemed worthy.
10 books
Satire
One of the oldest forms of writing, satire has held power and corruption up to ridicule for millennia. These books shine a funny, and often biting, spotlight on the times they were written in.
10 books
Picaresque
These are stories with heroes you'd call "a character" if you knew them, and not always kindly. Roguish outsiders survive on a mix of wit and incompetence, lurching from one mishap to the next.
10 books
Tragedy
Not every story gets a happy ending. Each era's tragedies reveal what it feared, valued and couldn't forgive, which is why this ancient genre is remade for every generation.
10 books
Saga/Family
These are novels about people and events whose impact ripples down the generations. They can be epic in scale yet intimate in their gaze, uncovering the lives hidden inside a family's history.
10 books
Myth
Myths and folk tales were passed down long before writing existed, when stories of gods, demons and heroes helped explain how the world worked. We explore tales old and new, and what they say about the societies that shaped them.
10 books
Translated Classics
Some of the greatest novels ever written aren't in English. But thanks to brilliant translators, you don't need to speak Spanish, Russian or Japanese to read them, just the curiosity to look beyond your own shores.
10 books
Bildungsroman (Coming of Age)
How did the child become an adult? These stories follow that journey, revealing how societies have treated their young and how it shaped the way they see the world. You might recognise your own upbringing, or be glad it wasn't yours.
10 books
Middle Grade
Middle grade
Fantasy
Wizards, unicorns, moving castles and doors into other worlds. Ten fantasy novels for readers in Years 5 to 7, from the funny to the properly epic.
10 books
Middle grade
Classics
Classics are books that have been read by generations of children and have found something timeless to say to all of them. Great stories with memorable characters, they have also usually been turned into a film or two.
10 books
Middle grade
Community
Our worlds are made up of the people around us and we sometimes find we have to lean on others to overcome difficulties. Read this collection to see heroes who find they are stronger together.
10 books
Middle grade
Countries
Stories have the power to transport us to far off places while telling us something about ourselves. All the stories in this collection take place in a foreign country, with stories of danger, adventure and family.
10 books
Middle grade
Emotions & Life Challenges
Sometimes, life can feel overwhelming, leaving us feeling angry, scared or sad. These stories show people going through difficult times - at home, school or in the world - and we can see how they deal with them.
10 books
Middle grade
Health, Disability & Wellbeing
Not everyone is the same, but some can have a more difficult path in life from sickness, disability or mental health. These stories can help to provide an insight into a life that can be quite different from your own.
10 books
Middle grade
History
It's sometimes said that the past is a foreign country. These stories take you inside the life and times of people living a very different life to yours, who were there to witness some important parts of history first-hand.
10 books
Middle grade
Spooky
Are you looking for tales of things that go bump in the night or jump out of dark shadows? Beware: these stories are creepy and kooky and may make it harder to fall asleep.
10 books
Middle grade
Humour
These books will tickle your funny bone and make you laugh out loud. Prepare for hilarious stories, crazy characters and lots of silly goings on.
10 books
Middle grade
Mystery
Join forces with some of the greatest detectives in story history as you try to solve some difficult puzzles. The clues are hidden there somewhere - can you find them?
10 books
Middle grade
Myths, Legends & Fairy Tales
Some tales have been handed down over centuries, stories of heroic bravery, epic adventures and weird goings-on. The books here either tell these stories or use them to create something new.
10 books
Middle grade
Spy
Are you a fan of cryptic puzzles? Do you dream of travelling the world tracking bad guys? Then this is the collection for you.
10 books
Middle grade
Animals - real
Nature is filled with amazing creatures with their own traits and personalities, all trying to survive. The books here tell tales with animals and places you recognise in situations you might not.
10 books
Middle grade
War
Wars are all-encompassing events, filled with overwhelming horror and sadness. It can be helpful to find individual stories to better understand the bigger picture and these books all do just that.
10 books
Middle grade
Dystopia
Picture a fantasy world and chances are there's something wrong with it. Dystopias use these worlds to tell us something about what happens when the people with power shouldn't have it.
10 books
Middle grade
Diaries
If you could get hold of someone's diary, what would you find there? Their thoughts? Their secrets? Their worst moments? If this interests you, have we got a list for you.
10 books
Middle grade
Disasters
Ever wondered how you'd act in the face of an impending disaster? The people in these stories don't need to imagine, they're living it for themselves.
10 books
Middle grade
School
Most of your time is spent at school and you've got to admit - it's a really weird place. These books are filled with challenges their heroic pupils have to confront.
10 books
Middle grade
Animals - fantasy
Fantastic worlds can be filled with mythical creatures, talking cats and fighting rats. These stories all see animals put through their paces in adventures, battles and time travel.
10 books