Best books for 12-14 year olds

Noughts and Crosses

We've put together a list of the 100 best books for children from the last 100 years.

The books below are ones suitable for older children aged 12 to 14.

How many have you read?

See our best books for other age groups

Looking for NEW books? See the ones we love this month

  • A Monster Calls

    Author: Patrick Ness (From an idea by Siobhan Dowd) Illustrator: Jim Kay

    Interest level: 11-14

    Reading age: 10+

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  • A Monster Calls

    Author: Patrick Ness (From an idea by Siobhan Dowd) Illustrator: Jim Kay

    Interest level: 11-14

    Reading age: 10+

    Connor's mum has cancer and life is changing. There is the nightmare, then there is school, where people avoid him, or persecute h…

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  • A Wizard of Earthsea

    Author: Ursula Le Guin

    Interest level: 12+

    Reading age: 11+

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  • A Wizard of Earthsea

    Author: Ursula Le Guin

    Interest level: 12+

    Reading age: 11+

    The first in a classic series of fantasy novels, A Wizard of Earthsea follows a young boy’s development from goat herder…

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  • Liccle Bit

    Author: Alex Wheatle

    Interest level: 13+

    Reading age: 12+

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  • Liccle Bit

    Author: Alex Wheatle

    Interest level: 13+

    Reading age: 12+

    At school Lemar, also known as Liccle Bit due to his height, is like any teenage boy. He's in love with a girl who barely notices …

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  • Northern Lights

    Author: Philip Pullman

    Interest level: 9-14

    Reading age: 10+

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  • Northern Lights

    Author: Philip Pullman

    Interest level: 9-14

    Reading age: 10+

    This extraordinary fantasy is the first book in Philip Pullman's multi-award-winning His Dark Materials trilogy

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  • Noughts and Crosses

    Author: Malorie Blackman

    Interest level: 12+

    Reading age: 12+

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  • Noughts and Crosses

    Author: Malorie Blackman

    Interest level: 12+

    Reading age: 12+

    Callum is a Nought but his best friend Sephy is a Cross - the daughter of one of the most influential politicians in the country.

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  • Tall Story

    Author: Candy Gourlay

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

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  • Tall Story

    Author: Candy Gourlay

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 8+

    Engagingly told in alternate chapters by four-foot, thirteen year-old Andi, in the UK, and her eight-foot, sixteen year-old half b…

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  • The Owl Service

    Author: Alan Garner

    Interest level: 12+

    Reading age: 12+

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  • The Owl Service

    Author: Alan Garner

    Interest level: 12+

    Reading age: 12+

    When Alison finds a curious dinner service in the attic, the discovery sets off a strange chain of events that look set to affect …

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  • Wonder

    Author: R J Palacio

    Interest level: 9+

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Wonder

    Author: R J Palacio

    Interest level: 9+

    Reading age: 9+

    August ('Auggie') Pullman can't help but stand out - he was born with a severe facial deformity. Written in the first person, Wond…

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https://www.booktrust.org.uk/booklists/1/100-best-12-14/
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