1. The Boy at the Back of the Class

Onjali Q. Raúf

A powerful, accessible story about friendship, refugees and empathy.

2. A Kind of Spark

Elle McNicoll

Neurodiversity, friendship and standing up for what is right; particularly good for discussion.

3. Front Desk

Kelly Yang

A Chinese-American girl's experiences of immigration, racism, family and ambition.

4. Ghost Boys

Jewell Parker Rhodes

Tackles racism, injustice and prejudice through a powerful historical and contemporary story.

5. The Last Bear

Hannah Gold

Adventure, friendship and climate change, with an engaging narrative for younger readers.

6. Amal Unbound

Aisha Saeed

A Pakistani girl's determination to pursue education despite significant social barriers.

7. The Explorer

Katherine Rundell

Adventure, survival and resilience; excellent for developing discussion around character and decision-making.

8. The Girl Who Became a Tree

Thanhhà Lai

A beautifully written verse novel exploring grief, identity and belonging.

9. Kick the Moon

Muhammad Khan

Friendship, identity, masculinity and bullying, with a strong contemporary UK setting.

10. When the Sky Falls

Phil Earle

Historical fiction set during WWII, exploring friendship, loss, courage and human relationships.