High School 5 min read

Recommended reading - Year 8

Deeper moral dilemmas, historical perspectives, and thought-provoking fiction for Year 8 readers.

Curated by LiteCapsule Reading Vault

Table Block

Title Author Synopsis Rating
The Last Refuge First published 2012
Dianne Bates With the help of leaked information from high-level officials inside Iran and dissidents from groups outside the country, a former SEAL and an Israeli commando devise a high risk, high stakes plan that will allow them to find and hijack a...
★3.5Open Library (2)
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)
On Loan First published 1988
Anne Brooksbank Nat's father's company has collapsed, but worse than that, his dad is given weekend detention, found guilty of 'trading insolvent', a crime that Nat doesn't really understand. But did his dad do it deliberately, or is he taking the fall for the... -
The Present Takers First published 1983
Aidan Chambers Lucy is tormented by class bullies who demand that she bring them gifts.
★4.0Open Library (1)
Famous For Five Minutes
Margaret Clark Charmwood High and Year 8 plans to turn the school play, 'Romeo and Juliet' into a rock musical. Everything's moving along until someone mentions Equal Opportunity. There aren't enough roles for girls in this production. For the Narrator, Peter... -
Fat Chance (and its sequel Hot or What) First published 1996
Margaret Clark From one of Australia's most popular writers for young adults Last time you met Lisa in 'Fat Chance', she thought she was a beached whale. Well she's back and she's hot, heading for teen supermodel of the year. So hot in fact that the agency's given... -
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... -
Tunes for Bears to Dance To First published 1992
Robert Cormier A masterful portrayal of hatred, prejudice and manipulation that challenges readers to examine how they would behave in the face of evil. Henry meets and befriends Mr. Levine, an elderly Holocaust survivor, who is carving a replica of the village... -
Chasing Redbird First published 1997
Sharon Creech Deutsch-Übersetzung von *Chasing Redbird* Eine Grille, 99 Kronkorken, eine Schildkröte, ein Hundewelpe, ein Diamantring – Jake Boone macht der dreizehnjährigen Zinny ein Geschenk nach dem anderen. Ausgerechnet Zinny, und nicht ihrer schönen...
★5.0Open Library (2)
The Island First published 1915
Crew, Gary & O'Mara, Michael ‘I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the constellation of Kasterborous. And I'm the man who's going to save your life.’ He's made a mark on almost every era of history, and he's touched millions of lives across...
★3.9Open Library (18)
Pictures In The Dark First published 1996
Gillian Cross Charlie is always trying to find unusual things to capture on camera and takes a chance photograph in the dark of something swimming in the river. He thinks he knows what it was, but no one believes him. When the photo's displayed at school, new boy... -
Wolf First published 1990
Gillian Cross Cassy lives with her granny, until the night that she hears strange footsteps coming into their flat. The next morning, she is packed off to her mum's - a squat in London that her beautiful, simple mother shares with a couple of actors. Cassy does... -
The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963 First published 1963
Christopher Paul Curtis The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.
★4.4Open Library (17)
Catherine, Called Birdie First published 1994
Karen Cushman ¨Catherine's mother wants to teach her the skills of the lady of the manor and to prepare her to be a gentle and patient wife. Her father only wants her to be married off, and profitably. Catherine herself hopes to become a painter, a Crusader, a...
★3.3Open Library (6)
The Midwife's Apprentice First published 1995
Karen Cushman In medieval England, a nameless, homeless girl is taken in by a sharp-tempered midwife, and in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world.
★3.8Open Library (8) ★3.5Google Books (2)
Boy (and its sequel Going Solo) First published 1984
Roald Dahl Boy is an autobiographical book by British writer Roald Dahl. This book describes his life from birth until leaving school, focusing on living conditions in Britain in the 1920s and 1930s, the public school system at the time, and how his childhood...
★4.1Open Library (40) ★4.0Google Books (33)
Yolonda's Genius First published 1995
Carol Fenner Fifth grader Yolonda is determined to prove that her younger brother is not a slow learner but a true musical genius in this sweet and inspirational Newbery Honor Book. Yolanda is smart, tough, and big for her age. Back in Chicago where they used to...
★4.5Google Books (3)
The Tulip Touch First published 1997
Anne Fine Reissued for the Originals series of powerful teen fiction. Nobody wants Tulip in their gang. She skives off school, cheeks the teachers and makes herself unpopular with her classmates by telling awful lies. None of this matters to Natalie who finds...
★4.0Open Library (2) ★3.0Google Books (3)
The Fat Man First published 2000
Maurice Gee When people like Herbert Muskie take up residence in your mind, there's nothing you can do to get them out. Colin Potter is a skinny boy, hungry for chocolate. Herbert Muskie is enormously fat, hungry for revenge. A dramatic encounter down at the... -
Love Me, Love Me Not First published 1993
Libby Gleeson Nine stories featuring Year 8 students and dealing with emotions and relationships. Can be read as separate stories or as a unified whole. Previous novels by the award-winning author are 'Big Dog', winner of the Australian Multicultural Children's... -
A Man Called Possum First published 1988
Harris, David & Jones, Max Illustrated story of a Riverland legend, David James Jones, known as 'The Possum'. He shunned society and lived alone for more than 50 years. Author was a Detective Sergeant based in Renmark, SA. from 1954 to 1976. He met 'The Possum' in the 50s and... -
It's My Life First published 1997
Michael Harrison What can you do? Nobody listens to children. Oh no? Then we'll MAKE them listen. Based on true events, this novel is about a group of children who come together to fight for justice on behalf of their teachers. -
Thunderwith First published 1992
Libby Hathorn A modern Australian classic from bestselling author Libby Hathorn, now celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. Lara feels completely alone after her mother's death. She moves to the bush to live with her father, but his new family make her feel...
★3.0Open Library (1) ★5.0Google Books (2)
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)
Far North First published 1996
Will Hobbs From the window of the small floatplane, fifteen-year-old Gabe Rogers is getting his first look at Canada's magnificent Northwest Territories with Raymond Providence, his roommate from boarding school. Below is the spectacular Nahanni River --...
★4.0Open Library (1) ★4.0Google Books (7)
Maphead First published 1994
Lesley Howarth Twelve-year-old MapHead, a boy with strange powers from an alternative world, travels to England in search of his human mother. -
The Pits First published 1996
Lesley Howarth When his daughter discovers the iceman, archaeologist J.S. Needcliff wastes no time in concocting theories about Stone Age culture--to the irritation of one unseen onlooker, the ghost of Broddy Brodson. He was alive back in 7650 B.C. and knows that... -
Eye to Eye First published 1997
Catherine Jinks Science fiction novel for teenagers. A boy finds a damaged starship which can think and talk. They become friends and together face a destructive force. The author's other publications include 'Pagan's Vows' which was awarded the CBC Book of the... -
Hero of Lesser Causes First published 1992
Julie Johnson For classroom reading teachers and specialists, this unique resource is one of two volumes of "Reading Stories for Comprehension Success" packed with ready-to-use story lessons and activities for building students' reading, comprehension, and...
★5.0Open Library (1)
Earthsong First published 1996
Victor Kelleher Fantasy/science fiction novel for teenagers, first published in 1995. Set in the future, it tells of a time when Earth is unpopulated and two off-world humans, Anna and Joe, are sent to Earth to establish a new colony. Sequel to 'Parkland', this... -
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)
Call of the Wild First published 1903
Jack London The adventures of an unusual dog, part St. Bernard, part Scotch shepherd, that is forcibly taken to the Klondike gold fields where he eventually becomes the leader of a wolf pack.
★3.9Open Library (82) ★4.5Google Books (234)
The Giver First published 1993
Lois Lowry Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.
★4.0Open Library (321) ★4.5Google Books (9)
Speaking to Miranda First published 1990
Caroline MacDonald An eighteen-year-old Australian girl begins searching for clues to the identity of the mother she never knew and uncovers startling things about herself. -
So Much To Tell You First published 1989
John Marsden I don't know what I'm doing here. Well, I do really ... I have been sent here to learn to talk again. Sent here because my mother can't stand my silent presence at home. Sent here because of my face...' She watches; she dreams. She sees more than...
★5.0Open Library (1)
Cold (and from the same series Thumper) First published 1965
S.R Martin On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues.
★4.1Open Library (98)
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)
Forever X First published 1997
Geraldine McCaughrean The Shepherd family have set off on their usual summer holiday under a cloud of gloom at the predictability of it all. When the car breaks down, they are forced to stay the night at the nearest B&B. To their dismay they find themselves at a place... -
Mandragora First published 1994
David McRobbie The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is the inspiration for this story. Adam and Catriona are affected by old Celtic magic when they discover remnants of a shipwreck. Tiny coffins contain dolls which call up ancient good and evil. Adam has to avert a... -
See How They Run First published 1997
David McRobbie Emma's family is on the run, with nowhere to hide, no friend to share their secret, no past they can speak of. And if they're not watchful, they'll have not future. See how they run. A gripping story of a family abruptly torn from their home and... -
Time Game First published 2000
Stephen Measday Calendars and clocks keep track of passing time as the Huskies prepare for and compete in the championship soccer game against the Falcons. -
Gilbert's Ghost Train First published 1998
David Metzenthen Tom's life is full of trouble; at home and at school. His major love is windsurfing, where he is an expert, and his deep friendship with the old fisherman, Gumby, whose livelihood is threatened by the bigger, faster boats. When Gerry enters his life... -
The House Guest First published 1991
Eleanor Nilsson This genre-defying ghost story is a classic of Australian young adult literature.When Gunno breaks into the quiet house with the big garden, he has no idea how it will change his life. Something about the place keeps drawing him back: its daytime... -
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. -
Z for Zachariah First published 1975
Robert O'Brien Key features of this text: How to study the text Author and historical background General and detailed summaries Commentary on themes, structure, characters, language and style Glossaries Test questions and issues to consider Essay writing advice...
★4.3Open Library (4)
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)
Dog Song First published 2013
Gary Paulsen "Beloved by her readers, special to the poet's own heart, Mary Oliver's dog poems offer a special window into her world. Dog Songs collects some of the most cherished poems together with new works, offering a portrait of Oliver's relationship to the...
★4.3Open Library (7)
Here Comes a Candle to Light you to Bed First published 1996
Maggie Prince A ghost story A spookily atmospheric ghost story,rooted in the conflicts of present-day familylife,and told with the vigour,humour and narrative power that made Maggie Prince MEMOIR OF A DANGEROUS ALIEN so successful. -
Talent First published 1955
Michael Pryor The first of the acclaimed Ripley novels, this clever psychological thriller introduces the reader to Tom Ripley and his extraordinary modus operandi. Accepting a commission from a wealthy businessman to travel to Italy in an attempt to convince his...
★4.1Open Library (17)
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)
Space Demons Trilogy First published 1988
Gillian Rubinstein Twelve-year-old Andrew, bored with life, becomes obsessed with a mysterious new computer game, which has the power to zap him and his friends into a dangerous world of menacing space warriors.
★5.0Open Library (2)
Crash First published 1996
Jerry Spinelli Seventh-grader John "Crash" Coogan has always been comfortable with his tough, aggressive behavior, until his relationship with an unusual Quaker boy and his grandfather's stroke make him consider the meaning of friendship and the importance of family.
★4.9Open Library (12)
The Bones in the Cliff (and its sequel The Unprotected Witness) First published 1995
James Stevenson And day now the big man with the cigar might be arriving on the ferryboat--the man that Pete's father is terrified to see. So three times a day, when the ferry is due at the island, Pete jumps on his bike and races to see if the big man will get off... -
Charlie Carver Stacks It
Laurie Stiller It all starts when Charlie Carver decides to impress a 14 year old babe called Alice by riding his go-kart down Suicide Hill. As he fails to take a corner and ends up at the orthodontist's instead of in her arms, Charlie accidentally learns about... -
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 Thief First published 1996
Megan Whalen Turner Gen flaunts his ingenuity as a thief and relishes the adventure which takes him to a remote temple of the gods where he will attempt to steal a precious stone.
★4.3Open Library (21)
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)
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)
Lockie Leonard Human Torpedo (and its sequel Scumbuster) First published 1991
Tim Winton Thirteen-year-old Lockie, an Australian surfer, is happier riding the waves than he is trying to cope with being popular and in love.
★5.0Open Library (1)

Explore more reading lists

Curated book recommendations and classics across Years 3 to 10.