October, October by Katya Balen

October and her dad live in the woods. They know the trees and the rocks and the lake and stars like best friends. They live in the woods and they are wild. And that's the way it is.

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

Sephy is a Cross: she lives a life of privilege and power. But she's lonely, and burns with injustice at the world she sees around her. Callum is a nought: he's considered to be less than nothing - a blanker, there to serve Crosses - but he dreams of a better life.

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll 

Addie campaigns for a memorial in memory of the witch trials that took place in her Scottish hometown. Addie knows there's more to the story of these 'witches', just like there is more to hers.  Can Addie challenge how the people in her town see her, and make her voice heard?

The Lion above the Door by Onjali Rauf 

Leo and his best friend Sangeeta are the odd ones out in their school. But as Leo's dad is always telling him, it's because they're special. Only thing is, if they're so special, how come they never see anyone who looks like them in their school history books?

The Girl who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson

They call me Yanka the Bear. Not because of where I was found - only a few people know about that. They call me Yanka the Bear because I am so big and strong.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

It is 1939. In Nazi Germany, the country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier - and will become busier still.

By her brother's graveside, nine year old Liesel's life is changed forever when she picks up a single object, abandoned in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, and this is her first act of book thievery.

The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Rauf

When a new boy joins their class, a group of children try to befriend him. They soon learn that Ahmet is a refugee and has been separated from his family. None of the grown-ups seem to be able to help him, so the friends come up with a daring plan, embarking on an extraordinary adventure.

Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah

Life is not safe for Alem. His father is Ethopian, his mother Eritrean. Their countries are at war, and Alem is welcome in neither place. So Alem is excited to spend a holiday in London with his father - until he wakes up to find him gone.

His Dark Materials (Northern Lights is book one) by Phillip Pullman

It begins with a girl and her daemon.  It is a hunt that will take her far from Oxford, to high-society London. Beyond, the journey will take Lyra to the home of the witches and the kingdom of the ice bears where the aurora awaits. And at the end of everything, there is the Dust.

Uglies by Scott Westerfield 

In Tally Youngblood's world, looks matter. At sixteen everyone undergoes a transformation from "Ugly" to "Pretty" and is catapulted into a high-tech paradise where the only thing that matters is having a great time and you never have to worry or think for yourself. Tally can't wait. 

When the World was Ours by Liz Kessler 

Elsa, Leo and Max have always been best friends, a special team of three. Then the Nazis come.  Leo and Elsa run for their lives, taking two very different paths across Europe. And Max, once their closest friend, now becomes the enemy as he is drawn into the Hitler Youth. Will the friends ever find their way back to each other? Will they want to?

Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin 

Jason Blake is an autistic 12-year-old living in a neurotypical world. Most days it's just a matter of time before something goes wrong. But Jason finds a glimmer of understanding when he comes across PhoenixBird -

could be his first real friend?

Wolf Brother by Michael Paver

Thousands of years ago, the land is one dark forest. Its people are hunter-gatherers. They know every tree and herb and they know how to survive in a time of enchantment and powerful magic. Until an ambitious and malevolent force conjures a demon determined to destroy the world.

The Soup Movement by Ben Davies

Jordan's getting enough funny looks as the new boy at school as it is, without his Mum giving him homemade soup every day for lunch! But when Jordan meets a homeless man called Harry, and gives him the soup, it is the start of an unlikely friendship.

Cane Warriors by Alex Wheatle 

Moa is fourteen. The only life he has ever known is toiling on the Frontier sugar cane plantation for endless hot days, fearing the vicious whips of the overseers. Then one night he learns of an uprising, led by the charismatic Tacky. 

A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

It's an ordinary Thursday lunchtime for Arthur Dent until his house gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly afterwards to make way for a new hyperspace express route, and his best friend has just announced that he's an alien. 

Journal writing

A great way to explore yourself and the world around you as everything you know changes.

So, to help you get past those blank page, no-thoughts, aaargh moments, here are 99 inspiring journal prompts for you to try:

https://examstudyexpert.com/journal-prompts-teens/

Moral Codes

Morals are formed out of a person's values and values are the foundation of a person's ability to judge between right and wrong.

For example, someone's morals might indicate they're opposed to the big things such as murder.  What about the more mundane e.g. gossiping or keeping promises?

Create and decorate a moral code that you think would be helpful to guide teenagers in 2023. 

Promote change

 Produce a persuasive letter or piece of writing designed to raise awareness or promote change about a topic that you feel passionately about.

Read here first for inspiration: https://www.redcross.org.uk/stories

Creative Writing

Have you tried Miss Critchley’s creative writing club on a Wednesday lunchtime? 

Celebration Calendar

Create, decorate and annotate a calendar to show all of the Festivals of World Religions throughout the year including Holi, Ramadan, Eid, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Diwali, Bodhi Day and Hanukkha, to name but a few! 

Peace Out

Short stories that will help you calm down and relax by guiding you through visualization and breathing exercises.

https://bedtime.fm/peaceout

When life is chaotic and full of noise, music can transport you to a place of tranquillity and peacefulness - enjoy listening to mindfulness classics here:

https://planetradio.co.uk/scala-radio/player/205275330/

The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

A three series podcast well worth a listen for anyone who loves a good mystery story!

https://gzmshows.com/shows/listing/mars-patel/

TED Talks Daily Audio

For thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable - from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and everything in between - given by the world's leading thinkers and creators.

https://www.ted.com/about/programs-initiatives/ted-talks/ted-talks-daily

Music from Around the World

Explore and celebrate music from people with different backgrounds, cultures, and religions here: https://worldmusic.net/blogs/guide-to-world-music

True Spirit (2023) PG - available on Netflix

This inspirational film tells the true story of a teenager's incredible sea voyage as she chases her dreams — and faces her fears — as she sets out to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

Thirteen Days (2000) PG – available on Netflix

A dramatization of President Kennedy's administration's struggle to contain the Cuban Missile Crisis in October of 1962.

Invictus (2009) 12 – available on Amazon Prime

This political drama with sports action, is set after the fall of apartheid in Nelson Mandela's first term in office as president. It explores how he used the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which was hosted by South Africa, to bring blacks and whites together after decades of violence, mistrust and hatred.

Remember the Titans (2001) 12 – available on Amazon Prime

The true story of a newly appointed African-American coach and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit.

Wonder (2017) PG - available on Netflix

After being home-schooled all his life, a boy with facial differences attends a traditional school, where he must find friends among his bullies – a heart warming movie to make you smile and appreciate the small things in life.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night – National Theatre Live

Christopher has an extraordinary brain – exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret every day life.  When he’s neighbour’s dog is murdered he ventures on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

Everest (2015) 12 – available on Netflix

In 1996, rival mountaineering teams attempt to scale Mount Everest, but when a blizzard hits the summit, the climbers must fight to stay alive.

Coach Carter (2005) 12 – available on Netflix 

When he takes over as Richmond High School's new basketball coach, Ken Carter demands that players show up academically as well as athletically.

The Rescue (2021) PG – available on national geographic and Disney+ 

The enthralling, against-all-odds story about the daring rescue of twelve boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand. 

Patch Adams (1998) 12 – available on Netflix

After spending time in a mental institution, a man decides to become a doctor, hypothesizing that humour will improve patients' quality of life.

Cool Runnings (1994) PG – available on Disney+

Based on the Jamaican bobsled team that competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics that had to train hard and developed their own style, qualifying for finals. A movie about tenacity and mutual respect.