My padlet has got loads on but if he’s looking for something a little meatier and darker then the Wynd series could be perfect. Scales and scoundrels is a good combo of comedy and action. City of dragons, wings of fire, Hilo, cactus kid and shakti could all be good options.

Seven ghosts and Aveline Jones are top tier horror reads. I’ll miss reading the last two chapters of seven ghosts this year and seeing the jaws drop as they work out the twist! How to make friends with a ghost is a nice friendly spooky read.

Must be something in the air as I’m one too!!

I can see where you’re coming from, but think all the odd villainous creatures took me a similar head space. Might be more to do with my attention always being drawn to the action in a story 😂 patience is not my strongest reading attribute!

Lucas has nailed most of them. I will say Rune is more epic than it looks, my book of the year. Not sure if it’s been mentioned but Scales and Scoundrels is very suitable for this brief. The Secret of the Ravens could be a good shout too.

I think we ended up doing either two or three of the routes as a class and then I put it on the shelf. It was barely on it for the next few months.

This maybe doesn’t quite fit the brief, but we read The Boy with Big Decisions last year and it was brilliant for engaging those who would find a full novel too much. Knowing they would decide the future choices and only have to read a certain amount was a game changer.

Mine arrived today too. Definitely going to read it before I let my class get their hands on it!

It’s on my to read pile so very excited for it now.