High School 5 min read

Recommended reading - Year 7

Compelling narratives, foundational themes, and classic literature for Year 7 readers entering high school.

Curated by LiteCapsule Reading Vault

Table Block

Title Author Synopsis Rating
Watership Down First published 1972
Richard Adams Rediscover the A Puffin Book series and bring the best-loved classics to a new generation - including this highly anticipated edition of Tales from Watership Down. Return to the warren with this treasured collection of short stories, an epic encore...
★4.2Open Library (106)
Wreck First published 2004
Allan Baillie When the fury of the cyclone seems to have passed, Reene and Ian crawl from safety to see a rusty freighter on their beach. The abandoned freighter seems to call them. But it's a trap ...
★4.0Google Books (2)
Pankration First published 1997
Dyan Blacklock Pirates, a wolf-fight, kidnap - a thrilling life-and-death story about the first Olympics. The two men were circling each other with all the angry energy of fighting bulls, in front of a crowd that was already wild with excitement. The Pankration...
★5.0Open Library (1) ★1.0Google Books (1)
Surfing Mr. Petrovic First published 1997
Colin Bowles Eleven-year-old Tao loves hanging around with his mates. He used to like surfing with his dad, too, until Dad left home to live with a fashion model. And his mum has a new boyfriend, with altogether too-brainy kids. When Mr Petrovic enters the... -
Fire, Bed and Bone First published 1998
Henrietta Branford The year is 1381. Rebellion is brewing, and life for man - and dog - is about to change dramatically... Told through the eyes of a hunting dog, Fire, Bed and Bone is an unusual and engaging look at an important time in British history.
★5.0Open Library (1)
Jane Eyre First published 1847
Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Following the life story of one Jane Eyre, the novel by the same name was written by Charlotte Bronte in 1847. The tale of the young woman gives great insight and depth to the troubles of the times, as many of the life...
★4.0Open Library (182)
The Secret Garden First published 1911
Frances H Burnett A ten-year-old orphan comes to live in a lonely house on the Yorkshire moors where she discovers an invalid cousin and the mysteries of a locked garden.
★3.9Open Library (96) ★5.0Google Books (1)
Obernewtyn First published 1988
Isobelle Carmody In a world struggling back from the brink of apocalypse, life is harsh. But for Elspeth Gordie, born with enhanced mental abilities, it is also dangerous. Survival is only by secrecy and so she determines never to use her forbidden powers. But it is...
★5.0Open Library (1)
Lookout Rock First published 1981
Jane Carroll A tale of friendship and illness and hope. When Jessica's best friend drops her, with vague excuses about her brother's illness, she is hurt, lonely and angry but eventually the misunderstandings are resolved. By the author of TFirst Born'. -
Mike (and the others in the series, Lisdalia and Maddie) First published 2004
Brian Caswell Mike and his mother have moved from Melbourne to live at Boundary Park, in Sydney's west. Mike soon wishes they'd never left. At school he becomes the victim of the bully Shane. Then Mike meets Riny, a neighbour with a secret success story in her...
★1.0Google Books (1)
Benny and Babe First published 2001
Eoin Colfer Sequel to the No. 1 Bestseller Benny & Omar Benny, the sports-mad, carefree lad whose adventures in Tunisia have convinced him that he can take on the world, suffers a severe blow to his pride when he meets Babe. He may be a wise guy, but she is at... -
Walk Two Moons First published 1994
Sharon Creech After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left.
★3.9Open Library (18)
Ratface First published 1994
Gary Disher This collection includes manuscripts for several of Disher's works, including "Steal away", "The stencil man", "Approaches", and "The bamboo flute", together with contributions to, and correspondence concerning "Personal best", and "Personal best... -
Walk Twenty, Run Twenty
Gary Disher A stunning tale of intrigue and survival in the dusty outback, from the author of The Divine Wind. Rick’s cousins are two specks floating on the horizon, leaving him far behind on the treacherous bush track. He looks at his punctured tyres in... -
The Window First published 1997
Michael Dorris When Rayona's mother disappears and winds up in rehab, her father decides she needs a more stable place to stay -- but not with him. After a few tries with foster homes, Rayona is sent to stay with her father's mother, grandmother, and aunt in... -
Ned's Kang-u-roo First published 1997
Vashti Farrer Novel for children aged between 8 and 13. Twelve-year-old Ned runs away to sea and finds himself on the HMS Endeavour, captained by James Cook. The award-winning author has published short stories, plays, picture books and historical novels. This is... -
Dancing with Ben Hall First published 1997
Jackie French A collection of short stories, both historical and contemporary, based on real people and real events. -
Dodger First published 1991
Libby Gleeson With the encouragement of a new teacher, Mick takes a role in the school musical, gaining the opportunity to change his own and others' opinions of himself, and to come to terms with the death of his mother and frequent absences of his lorry driving father. -
Water Wings First published 1996
Morris Gleitzman All Pearl ever wanted was a grandmother, but when 'Gran' comes into her life she gets a lot more than she bargained for.
★2.5Open Library (2)
The Wind in the Willows First published 1908
Kenneth Grahame The escapades of four animal friends who live along a river in the English countryside--Toad, Mole, Rat, and Badger.
★4.0Open Library (56) ★5.0Google Books (1)
Beowulf First published 2000
Seamus Heaney Composed toward the end of the first millennium, Beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of Beowulf, a Scandinavian hero who saves the Danes from the seemingly invincible monster Grendel and, later, from Grendel's mother. He then returns...
★3.6Open Library (50) ★3.5Google Books (2)
The Burnt Stick First published 1994
Anthony Hill John Jagamarra grew up at the Pearl Bay Mission for Aboriginal children in the far north-west. It was beautiful there, but it wasn't home. This is a tale for everyone about the pain of separation, and the strength of the human spirit.
★5.0Google Books (1)
Spindrift First published 1975
Anthony Hill While Elizabeth is waiting for her grandmother to die, she learns about sacrifice and hope from an old beachcomber she befriends.
★4.5Open Library (2)
Parkland First published 1994
Victor Kelleher Devastatingly sinister, and uncomfortably familiar, the truth about Parkland is yet to be revealed ... Parklandis the first title in a loosely linked trilogy (including Earthsongand Fire Dancer) exploring themes of humanity, responsibility and freedom.
★4.0Open Library (1)
Godhanger First published 1996
Dick King-Smith From a silent perch in the branches of a great tree, a huge and mysterious bird, the Skymaster, keeps watch over Godhanger Wood, and the innocent blood shed daily by the cruel gamekeeper. When the birds determine to save themselves, the gamekeeper... -
Kim First published 1901
Rudyard Kipling How is this book unique? Font adjustments & biography included Unabridged (100% Original content) Illustrated About Kim by Rudyard Kipling Kim is a novel by Nobel Prize-winning English author Rudyard Kipling. It was first published serially in...
★3.7Open Library (18)
Hating Alison Ashley First published 1984
Robin Klein Richard Tulloch has many plays to his credit and more than fifteen years experience in theatre, film and television. Here is his extremely funny play adapted from the highly successful novel.
★4.0Open Library (2)
The Listmaker First published 1997
Robin Klein Twelve-year-old Sarah makes lists. It helps her remain in control when her life is on hold. But what sort of life does she want when the choice is between eccentric elderly aunts and her sophisticated glamorous stepmother? A wonderful portrayal of... -
A View From Saturday First published 2004
E.L. Konigsburg Author biography, chapter summaries, discussion questions, vocabulary builders, reproducibles, cross-curricular activities for students of all learning styles for the novel The view from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg. -
The Wizard of Earthsea (and its sequels) First published 2003
Ursula Le Guin A boy grows to manhood while attempting to subdue the evil he unleashed on the world as an apprentice to the Master Wizard.
★4.5Open Library (2)
The Quicksand Pony First published 1998
Alison Lester 'Biddy, I'm sorry, we're going to have to leave her.' 'What?' Biddy struggled out of the quicksand. 'You can't leave her! The tide's coming in. She'll drown!' But the pony is trapped and Biddy is forced to go on without her. Next day the only signs... -
Ella Enchanted First published 1997
Gail Carson Levine In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.
★3.8Open Library (38)
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (all the Narnia Books) First published 1950
C.S. Lewis C. S. Lewis was a British author, lay theologian, and contemporary of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia.
★4.1Open Library (121) ★3.0Google Books (2)
Camel Rider First published 2004
Prue Mason Adam and his family live in a compound with other foreigners who work in the Middle East. He's got everything he wants, everything he needs, and there's a lot he takes for granted.Then war breaks out, and, in the confusion to escape, Adam runs away....
★4.0Open Library (1)
No gun for Asmir First published 1993
Christobel Mattingley War has come to Asmir's home in Sarajevo. He is torn from his father, his home and everything he has known. He becomes a refugee. This is a story of courage you will never forget.
★5.0Open Library (1) ★5.0Google Books (1)
The Sack (and its sequel Work Wanted) First published 1993
Christobel Mattingley When Shane's dad loses his job everything changes, slowly at first and then faster and faster. But although Shane and his family have to give up so much that is familiar, Shane finds that in their new life they still have what is most important.
★5.0Google Books (1)
The Pipe First published 2000
James Moloney There''s something about the pipe that draws the skateboarder in. The local kids warn them not to go in, but those smooth concrete walls, curving away into the darkness, are the ultimate challenge to any skateboarder.' -
The Butterfly Lion First published 1996
Michael Morpurgo Celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the stunning, classic story of an unforgettable friendship with a glorious colour gift edition, fully illustrated by Christian Birmingham.
★4.4Open Library (8)
Climb a Lonely Hill First published 1970
Lilith Norman Chronicles a brother's and sister's efforts to survive when an auto accident strands them in the Australian Bush. -
Sabriel First published 1995
Garth Nix For many years Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the random power of Free Magic and away from the Dead who won't stay dead. But now her father, the Mage Abhorsen, is missing, and to find him Sabriel must cross back...
★4.3Open Library (47) ★4.0Google Books (1)
Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh First published 1970
Robert O'Brien They are not like other rats. They work at night, in secret . . . Time is running out for Mrs Frisby. She must move her family of mice before the farmer destroys their home. But her youngest son, Timothy, is too ill to survive the move. Help comes...
★4.1Open Library (47) ★3.5Google Books (3)
Animal Farm First published 1945
George Orwell What happens when ill-treated farm animals gang up to throw out their lazy, corrupt, and power-drunk rulers? Animal Farm is born. As humans get ousted from Manor Farm and animals take control, their utopian fantasy of running a farm on the basis of...
★4.2Open Library (581)
Parzival First published 1998
Katherine Paterson A retelling of the Arthurian legend in which Parzival, unaware of his noble birth, comes of age through his quest for the Holy Grail. -
Hatchet (and sequels Hatchet: Winter and Hatchet: The Return) First published 1986
Gary Paulsen A bag with ten copies of the title that may also include miscellaneous notes, discussion questions, biographical information, and reading lists to assist book group discussion leaders.
★4.2Open Library (156)
The Anzacs at Gallipoli: A Story for Anzac Day
Pugsley, Chris & Lockyer, John The day-by-day experiences of Australian soldiers at Gallipoli, told in graphic black and white photographs and text which describes the campaign and includes extracts from soldiers' letters and diaries, boxed information about particular parts of... -
The Getting of Wisdom First published 1962
Henry Handel Richardson Henry Handel Richardson was the pseudonym of Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson, a writer who was born in 1870 to a reasonably well-off family which later fell on hard times. The author's family lived in various Victorian towns and from the age of...
★2.0Open Library (1)
Foxspell First published 1995
Gillian Rubinstein Twelve-year-old Tod's mystical links with a spirit, half man and half fox, and with the natural world surrounding his grandmother's house in the Australian countryside challenge his attempt to adjust to the real world. -
Under The Cats Eye First published 1997
Gillian Rubinstein Jai and his friends at boarding school join forces with shape-shifters in their attempt to defeat the headmaster who steals the souls and futures of the students.
★5.0Open Library (1)
Hatty's Hotline First published 1998
Moya Simons Another misadventure in the life of Hatty Duncan - This time she has taken on the role of teen guru for the local newspaper and some of the problems she is posed surprise even her!_ -
Maniac Magee First published 1990
Jerry Spinelli After his parents die, Jeffrey Lionel Magee's life becomes legendary, as he accomplishes athletic and other feats which awe his contemporaries.
★4.1Open Library (40) ★4.0Google Books (1)
Wringer First published 1997
Jerry Spinelli A boy's tenth birthday marks an event he would rather ignore: the day that he is ready to take his place as a wringer at the annual family fest, Pigeon Day. When an unwanted visitor--in the form of a trusting pigeon--arrives on his window sill, the...
★4.4Open Library (5) ★4.5Google Books (5)
Easy Meat First published 1996
Maureen Stewart All Australian children's books published from 1989 to 2000 are listed in this essential reference for those who appreciate the richness of Australian writing for children. Following the same format as volumes 1 and 2 in this series chronicling... -
Gulliver's Travels First published 1726
Jonathan Swift A parody of traveler’s tales and a satire of human nature, “Gulliver’s Travels” is Jonathan Swift’s most famous work which was first published in 1726. An immensely popular tale ever since its original publication, “Gulliver’s...
★3.6Open Library (89) ★4.5Google Books (3)
The Cay First published 1969
Theodore Taylor All his life Phillip had looked down upon black people. Now, he was blind and totally dependant upon a man named Timothy who he didn't know was black.
★3.9Open Library (9)
The Hobbit First published 1937
J.R.R Tolkien Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, is a peaceful sort who lives in a cozy hole in the Shire, a place where adventures are uncommon - and rather unwanted. So when the wizard Gandalf whisks him away on a treasure-hunting expedition with a troop of rowdy...
★4.3Open Library (499)
Seven Little Australians First published 1912
Ethel Turner From the book:Before you fairly start this story I should like to give you just a word of warning. If you imagine you are going to read of model children, with perhaps; a naughtily inclined one to point a moral, you had better lay down the book...
★5.0Open Library (1)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn First published 1960
Mark Twain A feisty young boy fakes his own death to escape his abusive father and heads off down the Mississippi River with his newfound friend Jim, a runaway slave.
★4.0Open Library (1)
Belle Prater's Boy First published 1996
Ruth White When Woodrow's mother suddenly disappears, he moves to his grandparents' home in a small Virginia town where he befriends his cousin and together they find the strength to face the terrible losses and fears in their lives. When Belle Prater...
★5.0Open Library (1)
The Happy Prince First published 1888
Oscar Wilde The Happy Prince and Other Tales (sometimes called The Happy Prince and Other Stories) is a collection of stories for children by Oscar Wilde first published in May 1888. It contains five stories: "The Happy Prince", "The Nightingale and the Rose",...
★4.2Open Library (13)
The Friends First published 1992
Kazumi Yumoto Becka Norwood's life is turned upside down when a new girl named Honey starts claiming to be her best friend. And it soon becomes clear as to what lengths Honey will go to make that delusion reality....
★4.0Open Library (16)

Explore more reading lists

Curated book recommendations and classics across Years 3 to 10.