Like stepping into another world full of new experiences and adventure, we all love the feeling of being engrossed in a good book. But once you’ve read (and re-read) the old hands, finding a new favourite can be tricky. Luckily, our brilliant team of children’s book reviewers are here to help. And so, based on our site members’ reviews, here it is – the top five children’s books you should be reading next!
1. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
If you’re after something otherworldly and utterly terrifying, this may be the nightmare for you. While her parents are out Coraline finds a secret passageway that connects her house to a warped reality where people have buttons instead of eyes. “Coraline is a creepy novel that frightened the life out of me,” said site member Amazed Earthling. “I had to read it in two sittings because I was so utterly spooked. The author, Neil Gaiman, conjured up such amazing pictures in my head. I constantly found that I wanted to skip over the really scary parts. Nevertheless, I ploughed on through.”
So, if you don’t mind being “scared almost to death”, this is one book our site members highly recommend!
“It had such a brilliant atmosphere and it was devised so cleverly. I recommend it to children aged 10 plus for a truly petrifying read. You have been warned.”
2. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (teen read)
From that spine-chilling tale to a heartwarming read, our second site members’ pick follows two 16-year-old twins Jude and Noah as they struggle to come to terms with love and betrayal in the wake of a family tragedy.
“The sibling relationship is captured perfectly and I love that a brother-sister friendship is at the heart of the book. Nelson has captured the way they hate each other and each others’ actions, but would protect each other no matter what,” enthused spruzie. “If you have siblings, I would expect, like me, you will see yourself in this book. That’s what makes it so emotionally moving.”
But I’ll Give You the Sun is also about the power of art and creativity, too, and summing up the effect of the novel, spruzie added: “I’ll Give You the Sun is a beautiful book brimming with art, familial love, betrayal and forgiveness. Read it.” Now who can argue with that!
(Not us: it’s also, coincidentally, our current Teen book club choice, so there’s plenty more to find out about the book here!)
3. Hold Me Closer by David Levithan (teen read)
If you like a good love story then that’s not the only book our site members have been recommending; David Levithan’s Hold Me Closer is stealing the spotlight. Written as a musical companion piece to Will Grayson, Will Grayson, this book focuses on the complicated love life of Will’s loud, flamboyant best friend Tiny Cooper – and it’s been hitting all the right notes with our reviewers.
“Will Grayson is one of my all time favourite books and Tiny is one of my all time favourite characters so I had extremely high expectations,” said reader muchbooks. “David Levithan did not disappoint. I completely adored this book. It was big, proud and really quite spectacular. Hold me Closer was exactly what I hoped it would be and more, it filled a Tiny Cooper sized hole in my heart I didn’t even know I had.”
4. Half Wild by Sally Green (teen read)
If soppy is really starting to bite, however, and you want something to get your teeth into, why not try the trilogy that’s got Twilight fans in a tizz. The sequel to the bewitchingly successful Half Bad, Half Wild is set in a hidden society of witches in which Nathan is on the run, trying to rescue his friends and learn to control his new powers.
Our reviewers particularly liked Green’s characters: “Nathan is one of the most interesting protagonists I’ve ever read. Marcus was also brilliantly written,” praised afflictedbybooks. “He was very compelling and intriguing, which must have been difficult to write, as it takes a skilled writer to make a murderer such a likable character.”
“This was a very exciting book and the ending was extremely unexpected…” Avatar 46 really knows how to leave things on a cliffhanger!
5. Fish Out of Water by Natalie Whipple
If all that has been leaving you feeling like a fish out of water then don’t worry: Lottie is Dottie has a suggestion that will catch you hook, line and sinker. Natalie Whipple’s new book follows a girl named Mika, whose summer is turned topsy-turvy when her estranged grandmother turns up on her doorstep.
“This book was simply a delight to read. Anyone who reads this will be hooked thanks to Whipple’s oh-so-perfect witty writing style and array of interesting multicultural characters,” thought Lottie is Dottie.
“Overall this was a truly wonderful book which will have you giggling, fluttering, weeping and really, really wanting a goldfish! Next time you’re looking for something quirky and new to read, this book is definitely the one you should pick up.”
We hope that’s left you feeling like the cat that got the cream! Site members, if your review has been mentioned above, please be sure to email the Book Elves and we will send you a book-shaped prize in the post!
Happy reading!
