Just in case twelve amazing books/series from your childhood wasn’t enough, here are twelve more to help you through the exam stress.
1. Stig of the Dump by Clive King
As a child I loved this novel and it may help to explain why I was briefly an Archaeologist. It’s a great novel about unlikely friendship.
2. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
This list is starting to have gone on a bit of a classic literature bent, but they’re classics for a reason and Peter Pan is no exception. There is nothing better than being whisked off the Neverland and there is so much more to the book than there is in any of the film adaptations.
3. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Continuing in the classic vein, this is a great novel about the bond between sisters and the wonder of dancing. As one of three sisters myself, I enjoyed how relatable the characters were, though that is where any similarities end: you don’t want to see me and my sisters attempting to do ballet!
4. Bart Simpson’s Guide to Life
I will admit that I haven’t read this book but my boyfriend says it was his favourite as a child and it still makes him laugh.
5. Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian
It was probably one of the first books you cried reading but it really is worth it. It’s such a beautiful and sad story with an uplifting end that will make you forget your exams.
6. The Angry Aztecs by Terry Deary
Learning about history was never as much fun as reading the Horrible Histories series. Always funny and easy to read if you fancy learning something that’s not on your course in your down time, and any one of these books is a great choice.
7. The Wind Singer by William Nicholson
OMG, The Wind Singer!!! What a book! What a trilogy! I have so much love for this book, I can hardly contain myself. For those out there that haven’t read it because you lived under a rock, it’s set in a dystopic world where families are ranked by their joint intelligence and if you want to know more you’ll just have to read it.
8. Molly Moon’s Incredible Book of Hypnotism by Georgina Byng
I first read this book when my younger sister got it as a present and she didn’t want to read it. I thought it would be too young for me but I didn’t have anything else to read and before I’d even finished the first chapter I was totally hooked. It’s a great rags to riches story about the eponymous Molly Moon and her powers of hypnotism.
9. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
This is probably one of the more unusual books on this list but, despite that, it’s one that has stayed with me for a very long time. It’s a great reminder to be kind to others, not to worry about fitting in and, above all else, to be yourself.
10. Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
Who could forget this wonderful trilogy, which was for many their first real foray into racial politics. Remember to keep your tissues close; it’s a crier!
11. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Whatever your feelings about the Hobbit movies, you have to admit that the book was brilliant. That and you don’t have three hours of battle at the end, just one paragraph! It’s a great way to remember how good Tolkien’s writing is and, as it’s considerably shorter than The Lord of the Rings, it’s not such a massive undertaking.
12. The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
You may not have actually read this book but I’m sure we all enjoyed the Disney version a lot. In typical book lover fashion, however, I think the book is better. So, give Mowgli a chance to share loads more stories about his life in the Jungle.
BONUS: Children and Household Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Also known as Grimm’s Fairytales, these stories are well worth a reread as an adult, especially as you may find they seem to have changed a lot since you were a child. The ugly sisters chopped off their toes and heels to fit into the glass slipper, Sleeping Beauty was raped during her slumber, Rapunzel’s Prince was blind, and many more shocking revelations await you, as well as some outright odd stories such as All-Kinds-Of-Fur.
I hope you have enjoyed this list and have plenty of books to read that will get you through exams – and maybe onto your holiday reading list. Happy reading!