Ten must reads? Way too few! There should be at least another 90 in the list. Anyway, here goes...
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) by Lewis Carroll: Go down a hole with Alice and discover a fantastic new world. Crazy characters, amusing poems and songs, weird adventures... they’ll keep you engrossed.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) by Mark Twain: Tom Sawyer’s second name is mischief and along with his friend Huckleberry Finn, he has no difficulty in getting into trouble all the time. Enjoy the adventures of this lovable and ebullient nineteenth century American lad.
Heidi (1880) by Johanna Spyri: The sub title ‘For Children and Those Who Love Children’ says it all. The endearing story of a girl Heidi who lives in the Alps with her grandfather and thrives in the mountains is a delightful read.
A Prefect’s Uncle (1903) by P.G. Wodehouse: Reginald Farnie goes to a new school and discovers he is the uncle of a prefect there. He promptly turns his nephew’s life upside down. A great read for lovers of fun and cricket.
The Railway Children (1906) by E. Nesbit: If trains and a good story fascinate you, this is the book to read. Three children who live with their mother near a railway line manage to prove the innocence of their imprisoned father. How? Read this lovely book and find out.
Jennings Goes to School (1950) by Anthony Buckeridge: The first book in the Jennings series, this is a delightful school novel that introduces the eponymous hero J.C.T Jennings. One big laugh from beginning to end and guaranteed to make you a Jennings fan.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) by Roald Dahl: Love chocolates? Then visit the eccentric Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory with Charlie Bucket and enjoy the exciting adventures there.
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 (1982) by Sue Townshend: Adrian Mole, self declared intellectual who is just into his teens, records his growing up pains in his diary in his own inimitable style. A quirky, comic work and a most enjoyable read.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999) by J.K. Rowling: The third book in the Harry Potter series is easily the best. With its crisp pace and incredible plot, it is a real page turner.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2003) by Mark Haddon: This is a brilliant evocation of the strange and emotionless world in which the main character Christopher Boone, 15 and having Asperger’s Syndrome, lives. It is an engaging book that is a murder mystery, a growing up novel and a sensitive story of autism rolled into one.
Happy reading!
KHYRUNNISA A. is the author of the Butterfinger series, including the bestsellersHowzzatandGoal Butterfingers.
