Lockdown must reads

Whilst the U.K. remains in lockdown, you might be left with a lot of spare time that you'd usually fill seeing friends or going to the shops. You might also be feeling a little sad or overwhelmed by the news? There's no better way to combat the doom and gloom than by reading a good book.

Your library team has come up with a list of books we'd recommend reading over lockdown. Whether it's escaping to another world or learning something new, now is the perfect time to start reading...

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

RAGE: 11 - 12 / Genre: Fiction (Fantasy)

A magical fantasy book based in the once enchanted land of Orïsha. When the magic vanished it left those who wielded it enslaved to a ruthless king. But now magic is returning and one girl has the chance to turn the tide…

Dive into Orïsha to read a thrilling blend of Nigerian mythology and Young Adult fantasy. This book is available to borrow from the Library now.

2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

RAGE: 13 - 14 / Genre: Fiction (SciFi)

This book follows the wacky adventures of hapless Arthur Dent after he is saved from the destruction of Earth by an alien. A great read if you like funny books and silly science fiction. If you enjoy reading this book, then you'll be happy to know there's five more books in the series, all ready to borrow from the library.

3. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

RAGE: 8 - 10 / Genre: Non-Fiction (Diary)

Written as Anne and her family were hiding from persecution during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, this is a thrilling and deeply interesting read. The diary ends suddenly in 1944, but Anne's words stand the test of time and remain just as relevant in 2021. This book is available in the Library to borrow.

4. Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

RAGE: 11 - 12 / Genre: Fiction (Romance)

Real Men Knit is a feel-good story about four adoptive brothers struggling to keep their beloved family knitting ship open in the wake of their mother's death. A family and cosy romance novel, the main character Jesse Strong brings his brothers together along with his childhood friend Kerry to help save the knitting shop.

5. The Ice Monster by David Walliams

RAGE: 8 - 10 / Genre: Fiction (Fantasy)

In The Ice Monster we meet Elsie, an orphan in Victorian London. She goes on a wild adventure to meet a woolly mammoth taking her from London to the Artic tundra. An epic heart warming tale to remind us that heroes come from all walks of life. Perfect if you like other David Walliams books, and available in the Library to borrow.

6. Rocket Dog by Lynda Gore

RAGE: 7 and below / Genre: Fiction (Comedy)

A funny and loveable story about Craig's dream to get a dog. His Grandad build's him a robot dog called Rocket but what happens next no one predicted!

This book is available now to borrow from the library.

7. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

RAGE: 13 - 14 / Genre: Fiction (Young Adult)

A heartfelt novel about Felix Love, a transgender boy looking to find out what love really is. Equal parts funny and sad, Felix's journey is complicated by transphobic cyber-bullying and an unexpected love triangle. This is a modern romance story exploring identity, self-discovery and finding the love that you deserve.

8. The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu

RAGE: 13 - 14 / Genre: Short Stories (Fantasy)

The Paper Menagerie is a book of award-winning fantasy and science fiction short stories. Each story may be short but they will transport you across universes. One tells the story of a cyborg murder mystery, another a speculative story on what life would be like if souls were physical objects. Across all the stories there are common themes of searching for identify, and the clash between Eastern and Western cultures.

9. The Secret History by Donna Tartt

RAGE: 15+ / Genre: Fiction (Mystery)

The Secret History is an exciting mystery following the murder of a student at Hampden college, an elite American university campus. A tense yet thrilling story about friendship, elitism and what happens when a group of friends has a "morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs".

10. All We Can Save by Ayana Eliza Johnson

RAGE: 13 - 14 / Non-Fiction (Environment)

All We Can Save is a fantastic book of essays, poetry and art from women at the forefront of the climate movement in the United States. A enlightening read on the climate crisis, this non-fiction book tells the story of what's happening right now and what we can do to save the planet. This is a powerful story with an important message.