Lostock Carnegie Shadowers

The Final Year
I recommend the final year because it’s an easy read, and brings back lots of memories. I recommend this book for year 5 or 6 so they know what their last year will be like.

Isabella

The Final Year
Final year is very fun and exciting book, full of relatable things to the real world! Full of adventure and contains a lot of interesting twists, a great read would read again...

Smrithi

The Things We Leave Behind
A great book for mystery lover full of unravelling twists until the end..though it's a bit confusing at first but still is a great read.

Smrithi

The Things We Leave Behind
Clare Furniss’s The Things We Leave Behind is a hauntingly relevant dystopian novel that feels more like a warning than a work of speculative fiction. Set in a near-future Britain that’s disturbingly close to our own, it follows sixteen-year-old Clem as her ordinary life is shattered by the rise of an ultra-right regime. After her stepmother is taken by the authorities during a mass deportation, Clem flees London with her younger sister Billie, embarking on a journey north that is both literal and emotional. What sets this novel apart is its emotional depth and grounded realism. The dystopia here isn’t wrapped in science fiction tropes but rooted in current social anxieties, political rhetoric, and the fragility of civil liberties. Yet, Furniss avoids bleakness by anchoring the story in powerful familial bonds, particularly the moving, fiercely protective relationship between Clem and Billie. The twist, when it comes, lands with weight, reshaping the narrative and forcing the reader to reconsider Clem’s reliability. The framing device, Clem recounting her experiences to a counsellor, raises poignant questions about memory, truth, and how we survive trauma. Furniss’s writing is sharp, empathetic, and deeply British in its cultural touchstones, making the world feel both intimate and chillingly plausible. While undeniably political and timely, the story is carried by character more than concept. It's a novel that not only provokes thought but invites young readers to examine the world around them, and imagine how they might act if faced with the unthinkable. A timely, quietly powerful novel of resistance, sisterhood, and the stories we tell to survive.

Mrs Naden

Homebody
✨ A gentle, joyful coming-of-gender graphic memoir that everyone should read. Yes, even you, Steve from HR. Theo Parish’s Homebody is a beautifully illustrated, emotionally honest exploration of gender identity, self-love, and the winding path to authenticity. With clarity, charm, and a journal-style intimacy, Theo walks us through the awkward, the tender, and the quietly radical moments of growing up nonbinary. From misgendered Happy Meals to the euphoria of chosen names, this is a story that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. As an educator, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to any gender-questioning student, or to any adult who could use a little help understanding why language, pronouns, and self-definition matter. 💬 “We are all just trying to find a place to call our own.” Homebody reminds us that the journey to self doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be ours. Recommended for: questioning teens, supportive grown-ups, and anyone who’s ever tried to fit into a box that was clearly the wrong shape.

Mrs Naden

King of Nothing
King of Nothing is a gem of a YA novel that strikes the perfect balance between laugh-out-loud hilarity and deeply poignant themes. Nathanael Lessore delivers a masterclass in character-driven storytelling, crafting a journey that is both wildly entertaining and quietly profound. Anton, self-proclaimed king of Year 9, is initially hard to root for. He rules through intimidation, fuelled by his father’s criminal reputation, and is dead set on keeping his "cool kid" persona intact. But Lessore doesn’t allow Anton to stay one-dimensional. The narrative gradually peels back the layers, exposing the vulnerability beneath his bravado. Forced into the quirky world of the Happy Campers as a punishment for his antics, Anton’s life collides with Matthew—an eternal optimist, unshaken by bullying and brimming with bizarrely charming logic. Matthew steals the show with his delightful eccentricity. Whether he’s waxing poetic about moist lemon drizzle cake or offering unfiltered, heartfelt truths, he’s an unforgettable character. Through their budding friendship, Lessore weaves an authentic exploration of toxic masculinity, peer pressure, and self-worth. The contrast between Anton’s performative toughness and Matthew’s unapologetic genuineness provides the emotional core of the novel. What truly elevates King of Nothing is its ability to tackle weighty themes—absent fathers, gender stereotypes, and the lure of “gangsta” culture—without ever becoming preachy. The Gen Z humour, witty dialogue, and sharp observations make it an engaging read for teens while offering plenty for adults to appreciate. It is not only a story of redemption but a celebration of the courage it takes to challenge societal norms and forge one’s own path. By the end, Anton’s growth is so satisfying that you can’t help but cheer for him—and for Matthew, whose unshakable kindness is a quiet rebellion in itself. Perfect for readers 11+, King of Nothing is a funny, heartfelt, and ultimately empowering tale about the strength it takes to be vulnerable. Lessore proves once again that he’s a powerful voice in contemporary YA fiction. A must-read!

Mrs Naden

All That It Ever Meant
All That It Ever Meant is a novel that tackles weighty themes with poetic prose and a unique blend of realism and the fantastical. At its heart is 14-year-old Mati, a young girl navigating the complex terrain of grief, identity, and belonging following the death of her mother. As her family embarks on a journey through Zimbabwe, Mati is accompanied not only by her father and siblings but also by a mysterious spirit-like figure named Meticais, visible only to her. Musariri’s writing is undeniably lyrical, and the emotional depth of the characters, particularly Mati, is powerfully drawn. The novel explores cultural displacement, familial grief, and the unspoken tensions that shape adolescence. However, while the ambition of the book is admirable, the execution at times lacks clarity. The narrative leans heavily on dialogue, which may challenge younger readers, and the implications surrounding the mother’s death feel emotionally ambiguous in ways that could be confusing or unsettling for the intended age group. Although Meticais brings colour and intrigue to the story, their role remains unclear, and the novel’s use of magical realism may leave some readers searching for firmer narrative grounding. Ultimately, All That It Ever Meant is a thoughtful and original work, but its thematic weight and stylistic opacity may make it better suited to older teens with a strong appetite for literary fiction.

Mrs Naden

The Final Year
Year Six: the final stretch. Nate’s world feels like it’s folding in. Tests, pressure, friends drifting— the chaos outside matches the chaos within. And then his brother gets sick. Life at home is heavy: Nate, the quiet carer, two little brothers needing too much, a mother trying her best but falling short. The Beast inside him grows. Goodfellow writes Nate’s story like he’s been there, capturing the heartbreak of being young in a world too big to understand. Each verse lands sharp, honest. The blank pages hit like a punch. A pause, a scream, a moment of grief that says everything. But this is more than pain. It’s about finding your voice, about a teacher who sees you, about poetry opening a door to hope, to healing. The Final Year is raw, modern, and quietly revolutionary. I’m already counting the days until April’s sequel.

Mrs Naden

The Final Year
A very good book to read for Year 6s or Year 5s to read! It shows a very relatable experience for British Y6s from a perspective of someone who is a “normal” student. Love this book!* * not biased by the fact that the book is about Nate

Nate