11+ Reading List
Taking the eleven plus can be difficult, especially the English topics. So it's really important to build a varied and interesting 11+ reading list for your child.
PiAcademy’s 11+ Reading Club could be just what you need to help your child excel in this tricky section.
Table of contents
So without further ado, here are some 11+ reading recommendations for you:
Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden
Set in World War II, Carrie’s War tells the story of Carrie and her brother, Nick, who are evacuees sent to a Welsh mining town. It’s a heart and soul-warming and extraordinary story; a must-read!
Also students will relate to the main characters for sure.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
What a classic! The wonderful story of Wilbur the pig, Charlotte the spider and Templeton the rat is a tale of standing up for what you believe, accountability and camaraderie. Although the story deals with life and death, there is a warm entertaining side to it too.
Also a great jump off for creative writing due to the relatable characters.
Check this Out: Top 5 Easy and Fast Tips to Build 11+ Exam Vocabulary
Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian
Next on our 11 plus Reading List is this must read tale of Willie Beech who is evacuated to the countryside just before the outbreak of World War II to live with Thomas Oakley. An incredibly touching story.
High Rise Mystery by Sharna Jackson
It’s so exciting and I would recommend it to any unwilling readers wanting something a bit more modern.
Also a great one if you want to increase vocabulary for 11+ exams.
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
This book in the 11+ reading list is about a girl, Maia, who has been sent from England to start a new life with distant relatives in the Amazon.
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Another classic book in 11+ Reading list which follows the story of a Jewish family who flee Germany before World War II. Written by the wonderful Judith Kerr, it’s a must-read for everyone!
The Cadwaladr Quests by S.L. Ager
Essential 11+, SATs and ISEB vocabulary in an unusual and thrilling story containing 3,000-word definitions along with their synonyms and antonyms, in context, on the pages (suitable for CEM and GL 11+). Also excellent for ESL students.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Frozen in eternal winter, Narnia is a land of snow and pine forests, and its creatures are enslaved by the terrible White Witch. All children will appreciate the mystery of these adventures.
The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Next in our 11 plus reading list is is a series of thirteen books about the Baudelaire children and the disasters that are thrown upon them.
The first book feels quite disturbing as their parents are killed in a fire and they are sent to live with a terrifying relative, Count Olaf, who tries to steal the family legacy.
However, very swiftly the reader becomes swept up into the extraordinary storylines and the grim humour that runs through the book makes the series impossible to put down! Another great one for explaining vocabulary.
Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
For all those fantasy book-lovers, this timeless story is a wonderful story full of adventure and magic. When Tom hears his aunt and uncle’s grandfather clock strike 13, he goes to investigate and discovers a magical garden where he meets a new friend, Hatty. With this new friendship however, things are not quite as a seam.
Hitler’s Canary by Sandi Toksvig
‘A daring tale of wartime adventure’ describes this book perfectly. As German troops fill the streets of Denmark, this story follows the extraordinary efforts to help the Danish Jews to escape to Sweden and safety.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
This is a tale of an unlikely friendship in the most horrific of situations. Bruno is growing up in Berlin in World War II and his father gets promoted to Commandant and they move to Auschwitz where he meets Shmuel who is living behind a fence. He has no idea of the horrors that lie behind this fence, but goes to meet his new friend everyday and sneaks food to him.
The Emergency Zoo by Miriam Halahmy
A moving story of two girls who, when they realise domestic pets will be put down during World War II, they decide to take action. They create a hut in the woods for their own cat and dog and soon news spreads and other children bring their own pets. The Emergency Zoo is born!
The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff
A historical adventure story which brings Roman Britain to life. It follows a young Roman officer who sets out to discover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of the Ninth Legion, who marched into the mists of Northern Britain and never returned.
Five Children and It by E. Nesbit
Five children find a cantankerous sand fairy, a psammead, in a gravel pit. Every day ‘It’ will grant each of them a wish that lasts until sunset, often with disastrous consequences. A book that has never been out of print in over 100 years, a true classic.
Northern Lights
Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman
Next on our 11+ reading list is a fantasy novel set in a parallel universe, it follows the journey of Lyra to the Arctic to search for her missing friend. Since it is a complex story, a good one for comprehension.
Stig of the Dump by Clive King
Barney loves to wander off by himself. One day he tumbles over into a disused quarry where he meets somebody with shaggy hair wearing a rabbit-skin and speaking in grunts. He names him Stig. They end up going on adventures together and having lots of fun.
Truckers Diggers and Wings
Truckers, Diggers and Wings by Terry Pratchett
The Nome Trilogy tells the story of the Nomes, a race of tiny people from another world who now live hidden among humans. Through the books they struggle to survive in the world and, once they learn of their history from an artefact known as “The Thing”, make plans to return home.
White Fang by Jack London
Set in the harsh forests of northern Canada, this remarkable tale about the relationship between man and dog is guaranteed to captivate young readers.
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
As soon as Anne arrives from the orphanage to the farmhouse called Green Gables, she is sure she wants to stay forever. However, she is not what the Cuthberts expected and she has to convince them to let her stay. She dreams of the day when she can call herself
Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kästner
When Emil’s money goes missing on the train, he is determined to get it back. He teams up with the detectives he meets in Berlin and begins his marvellous adventure. Another classic!
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe by Penelope Lively
This ghostly tale follows the story of James and his family when they move to an ancient cottage in Oxfordshire. Strange things start happening: doors banging and strange signs appearing written in archaic handwriting. James finds that the ghost is the spirit of Thomas Kempe.
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
A recommendation from a tutee of ours, this mystery novel follows Ted and his older sister Kat as they try to discover how their cousin Salim disappeared from the London Eye. Ted, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, discovers clues that will ultimately lead to Salim’s rescue.
Charlotte Sometimes
Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer
This time-travel story, full of suspense, Charlotte Makepeace wakes up after her first night at boarding school and she’s baffled. Everyone thinks she’s a girl called Clare Mobley, and even more shockingly, it seems she has travelled forty years back in time to 1918.
Holes
Holes by Louis Sachar
Holes is a story about an unlucky teenage boy named Stanley Yelnats, who is sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile corrections facility in a desert in Texas, after being falsely accused of theft. Here, the warden makes the boys spend all day, every day, digging holes. Stanley soon realises they are digging holes because the warden is looking for something and Stanley wants to know the truth.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K Rowling
The whole series are a must-read! Harry Potter’s life is miserable but his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he’s a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Summary
Take a look at the above 11+ reading list, and try some of these stunning books out for yourself.
For more help with reading, check out PiAcademy’s 11+ Reading Club, and for anything to do with English, take a look at their creative writing, vocabulary, comprehension and SPAG modules.
