20 October 2023
A Memoir of My Former Self by Hilary Mantel - digital resources
The magnificent final book from one of our greatest contemporary writers. As well as her celebrated career as a novelist, Hilary Mantel long contributed to newspapers and journals, unspooling stories from her own life and illuminating the world as she found...
18 October 2023
You Could Be So Pretty by Holly Bourne Reading Group Questions
Reading group questions for You Could Be So Pretty by Holly Bourne. Change the rules. Reclaim your power. If you can… What would you choose? “Razor-sharp and compelling, it is essential reading for every teenage girl.” The Observer “This book is brilliant, brutal...
14 September 2023
I Kick and I Fly by Ruchira Gupta - Discussion Notes
AN UNFORGETTABLE STORY BASED ON REAL EVENTS ABOUT FINDING THE COURAGE TO CREATE YOUR OWN DESTINY. More about the book In the outskirts of Bihar’s Red Light District, fourteen-year-old Heera is living on borrowed time. Her father plans to sell her into...
07 September 2023
When You Lose it by Roxy and Gay Longworth Extract and Discussion Guide
A reading guide plus extract for When You Lose it by Gay Longworth. About the book Roxy was 13 years old when she was coerced then blackmailed into sending explicit photos, which were spread around her school. The shame led to...
12 April 2023
The Big Eurovision Read Bilingual (Welsh) Resources
This year, the UK is hosting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of last year’s winners, Ukraine. The Contest will be held in Liverpool on Saturday, 13 May. Partnering with BBC Arts, The Reading Agency is joining the party...
12 April 2023
The Big Eurovision Read Resource Pack
This year, the UK is hosting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of last year’s winners, Ukraine. The Contest will be held in Liverpool on Saturday, 13 May. Partnering with BBC Arts, The Reading Agency is joining the party...
21 March 2023
Mark My Words Ace of Spades Activity Pack
The ‘Mark My Words’ campaign supports a joint commitment to social justice, championing the role that reading plays in tackling inequality. By gifting the titles directly into public libraries, ‘Mark My Words’ will ensure that the books are freely accessible...
19 March 2023
World Book Night 2023 general poster (PDF)
Print this poster and stick up on noticeboards, in windows and anywhere else you like to promote World Book Night
13 March 2023
HappyHead - Activity Pack
Celebrate World Happiness Day with the thought-provoking YA LGBTQ+ thriller HappyHead by Josh Silver. We are in an epidemic. An epidemic of unhappiness. Friends, here is the good news: HappyHead has the answer. When Seb is offered a place on a radical...
17 February 2023
Wonders of the World booklist for children and young people
March 3 is World Wildlife Day, a United Nations International day to celebrate all the world’s wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and the health of the planet. We’re joining the celebration with...
17 February 2023
Wonders of the World booklist for adults
March 3 is World Wildlife Day, a United Nations International day to celebrate all the world’s wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and the health of the planet. We’re joining the celebration with...
13 February 2023
What the World Doesn't See Discussion Notes
Discussion notes for the powerful and insightful novel about grief, disability and first love; a story about getting lost and finding yourself.
02 February 2023
The Reading Agency’s February booklist for Children and Young People – Translated Books
On 21 February it is Mother Language Day so this month we have created a booklist of some terrific, translated books for children and young people to enjoy. Each book has been translated from their original language or are available...
30 January 2023
Reading Well for teens - classroom prompts
Questions and relevant reading to prompt class discussions and activities based upon the topics covered on the Reading Well for teens booklist.
06 January 2023
'Foster' and 'Small Things Like These' Reading Group Guides
A Reading Guide to ‘Foster’ and ‘Small Things Like These’ (shortlisted for The Booker Prize 2022) by Claire Keegan.
18 October 2022
October 2022 Children's and Young People booklist - Brilliant books by Black authors and illustrators
As October is Black History Month, we have created a booklist of 125 brilliant books created by Black authors and illustrators. There is something for everyone with fantastic poetry, graphic novels, fiction and non-fiction titles. You can join in with...
28 September 2022
Icebreaker questions
You’ve read your book and come together with your group to discuss it, but where do you begin? Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to talk about first, so these handy questions will help to break the ice...
27 September 2022
Yearbook 2022 booklist
The results are in! To celebrate National Reading Group Day, we asked you for your recommendations for our 2022 Yearbook – the books that have made your group laugh, cry debate and more over the past year. We loved reading...
27 September 2022
Schools engagement letter - Reading Well for teens
A template letter library staff can send to schools and colleges to establish partnerships to deliver Reading Well for teens.
30 August 2022
The Reading Agency's September Booklist for Children and Young People - Back to School
For many children and young people, September marks the start of the new school year, a time that can be both exciting and daunting. We have created a booklist for all children, from nursey school age through to secondary students,...
26 August 2022
Reading Well for teens - FAQs
A selection of FAQs to help answer questions about the new Reading Well for teens list.
16 August 2022
'The Last Whale' Teaching Resources
Explore the themes of Chris Vick’s ‘The Last Whale’ in your classroom with these Teaching Resources, including Whales and Whalers, Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change. About the Book From killers to conservationists, Carnegie-shortlisted Chris Vick tells the story of three generations of...
15 July 2022
The Reading Agency's August Booklist for Children & Young People - Escape with a Book
As lots of people head off on their holidays, we selected books that can transport a reader somewhere else even if they’re not going away. From picking up plastic pollution on a Caribbean Island to rural Ireland to Memphis, we...
14 June 2022
Reading Well for teens - format availability
Details of format availability for Reading Well for teens titles
01 June 2022
The Reading Agency's June Booklist for Children & Young People - Around the World/Refugee Week
This month we are celebrating books set in different countries and those by authors and illustrators from around the world! Read on to be transported to Mumbai, Paris, Nigeria and many other locations across the globe and discover Samurai, the...
09 March 2022
'Fire Keeper's Daughter' Teaching Resources
Download Teaching Resources to use with Year 9+ classes, with lesson plans and activities to use with your class to explore the book and deepen their understanding. About the Book Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her...
23 February 2022
'The Dark Lady' Discussion Questions
Discussion questions to accompany Akala’s novel, ‘The Dark Lady’. A natural storyteller with a vision of his own, The Dark Lady, Akala’s debut novel for teens will enthuse and entertain teenagers and young adults, showing that reading is a true...
04 November 2021
Booker Prize 2021 shortlist reading group guides
If you’re reading any of the Booker Prize 2021 shortlisted titles, these reading guides will help to spark discussion and get you thinking.
01 June 2021
Read with Pride - Summer of Reading List 2021 A3 poster
The second Paper & Hearts Society adventure. Join Olivia and The Paper & Hearts Society gang in this joyful comfort read and celebration of books from Booktuber Lucy Powrie. The perfect book for fans of Alice Oseman, Holly Smale and...
24 May 2021
The Yearbook by Holly Bourne - Teachers' Notes
Paige is used to staying quiet in the face of lies. Like how popular girl Grace is a such an amazing person (lie). How Laura steals people’s boyfriends (lie). How her own family are so perfect (lie). Now Grace and friends...
