Bestselling Books For Schools

Discover the books schools are choosing for their pupils. Our Top 40 bestselling school books showcases the most popular titles purchased by schools over the last three months, helping teachers, librarians and literacy leads discover tried-and-popular choices for their classrooms and school libraries.

The Clockwork Conspiracy

A locked-room mystery packed with rooftop chases, hidden codes and mind-bending science, The Clockwork Conspiracy is a must for fans of the Adventures on Trains series and Sharna Jackson's High Rise mysteries. Aspiring inventor Isaac Turner ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.9
Points Value : 8.0
Book Cover : Paperback

The Double Life Of Ted Amos

A heart-warming and hilarious story about one boy who wants to fit in, the friends he meets along the way, and one NASTY BLOUSE... Ted has always wanted to be a popular kid, but due to an embarrassing incident that will not be named, he finds it ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.2
Points Value : 7.0
Book Cover : Paperback

Finding Her Feet

A shy but talented footballer navigates challenging friendships and anxiety at school in this touching tale from acclaimed author Eve Ainsworth. Lily always feels a little bit left out. Shy and anxious, she finds school really hard, particularly ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.7
Points Value : 1.0
Book Cover : Paperback

I Am Rebel

"I’m Tom’s dog, and he’s my human. We belong to each other.” Rebel is a good dog, and he loves his simple, perfect life on the farm with his owner Tom – until one day the war comes too close… Now Tom is determined to join the rebellion ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.1
Points Value : 7.0
Book Cover : Paperback

You Can Do It: How to Find Your Voice and Make a Difference

Never underestimate your actions – even the smallest changes can have the biggest impact. That’s the power of kindness. From Marcus Rashford MBE and Carl Anka, the bestselling authors of You Are a Champion, comes the inspiring and positive ...

ATOS Book Level : 6.1
Points Value : 5.0

The Harder They Fall

Cal's family are proud to live in an 'analogue' world - no wifi in their house , just an ancient black-and-white TV. At school, Cal has no choice but to live in the 21st century, coping with a range of bullies and chancers on a daily basis. When ...

ATOS Book Level : 3.2
Points Value : 2.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

We Are All Made of Molecules

Meet Stewart. He’s geeky, gifted and sees things a bit differently to most people. His mum has died and he misses her all the more now he and Dad have moved in with Ashley and her mum. Meet Ashley. She’s popular, cool and sees ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.7
Points Value : 8.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

Crookhaven: The School For Thieves

"So this is really a school for criminals." It was meant as a question, though it came out more as an accusation. "We are so much more than that," Caspian said, sitting in a plush leather chair and gesturing for Gabriel to sit in a similar one ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.9
Points Value : 10.0
Book Cover : Paperback

Dance Of Resistance: The Josephine Baker Story

Catherine Johnson celebrates the incredible life of Josephine Baker in this true story, chronicling her journey from an impoverished childhood to beloved actress, dancer and wartime heroine. Dancer, singer, actress, movie star, civil-rights ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.1
Points Value : 2.0
Book Cover : Paperback

Boy Who Didn't Want To Die (front cover)

The Boy Who Didn’t Want To Die

The Boy Who Didn't Want to Die describes an extraordinary journey, made by Peter, a boy of five, through war-torn Europe in 1944 and 1945. Peter and his parents set out from a small Hungarian town, travelling through Austria and then Germany ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.4
Points Value : 6.0
Book Cover : Paperback

A Beowulf Tale: Monster Slayer

One dark night, the music and singing wake a monster from a swamp ... Warrior after warrior comes to slay the monster, but no one can outwit Grendel. Only the great hero Beowulf stands a chance - but even he is not prepared for the horror that lies ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.3
Points Value : 1.0
Book Cover : Paperback

The Line They Drew Through Us

Three best friends are born on the same day under miraculous circumstances. But by their twelfth birthday, Jahan, Ravi and Lakshmi’s lives are about to change forever. The British announce Indian independence and draw lines of Partition that tear ...

ATOS Book Level : 6.5
Points Value : 10.0
Book Cover : Paperback

Dracula: A Classic Retelling

Bram Stoker's Dracula is a masterpiece of horror fiction in which he creates a nightmarish world of vampires, evil-doing and insanity. A ship steered by a dead man… A huge black dog springing from its deck… A girl, sleepwalking towards...

ATOS Book Level : 5.4
Points Value : 3.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder

The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the crime, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.4
Points Value : 16.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

Dread Wood

It's basically the worst school detention ever. When classmates (but not mate-mates) Hallie, Angelo, Gustav and Naira are forced to come to school on a SATURDAY, they think things can’t get much worse. But they’re wrong. Things are about to get ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.9
Points Value : 7.0
Book Cover : Paperback

The Wintermoor Lights

What is happening to the children in Wintermoor? Secret organisation The Night House exposes the bone-chilling truth in this terrifying thriller from master of sci-fi Dan Smith. Tara Fisher’s best friend Zoe is the first to see the lights over ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.7
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

Resist

As the brutal Second World War stretches on with no end in sight, life for ordinary Dutch people in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands is fraught with peril and hardship. There is very little to eat and the population lives under the constant threat of ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.9
Points Value : 4.0
Book Cover : Paperback

Escape

When her school trip takes a perilous turn, Bernice must channel all of her knowledge to survive in this gripping drama from the queen of teen thrillers, Sophie McKenzie. A dream school trip to a sea-life sanctuary turns into a nightmare for ...

ATOS Book Level : 3.8
Points Value : 1.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

Needle

Charlene is a demon knitter. It’s the only thing she enjoys and the only thing she believes she’s really good at. So when her foster mum’s son destroys her latest creation, Charlene loses it and stabs him in the hand with her knitting ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.1
Points Value : 3.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde: A Dyslexia Friendly Retelling

Carnegie Medal winning author Tanya Landman delivers an eerily captivating and accessible retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Gothic novel of murder and monstrosity. Evil Mr Hyde stalks London's streets, leaving a trail of destruction ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.1
Points Value : 2.0
Book Cover : Paperback

The Elixir

Will the discovery of the Elixir of Life lead to a death sentence for a talented young healer? Ann Storer has inherited her grandmother’s mysterious gift of healing, which she shares through the special tinctures she dispenses in her family’s ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.1
Points Value : 2.0
Book Cover : Paperback

The Boy At The Window

A spine-tingling ghost story from bestselling author Lucy Strange Folk say the fog plays tricks – that it shapes itself into little hands and frightened faces that press at people’s doors and windows, desperate to come inside. But Hugo is ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.2
Points Value : 1.0
Book Cover : Paperback

Keep Your Friends Close

Chloe Roberts is on top of the world at Morton Academy. She’s a shoo-in for Head Girl and the lead spot in the school’s secret society: Jewel and Bone. But then her best friend, Nikhita Patel, betrays her, and life comes crashing down. Things ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.1
Points Value : 14.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

Big Words

Biggest goes first – always. That’s one of the unspoken rules of Kiln, the forbidden wasteland where Sam and his mates hang out. So when Sam comes up with a plan to go sledging on the rust-ridden bonnet of a rotting car, he goes first. To show ...

ATOS Book Level : 3.9
Points Value : 3.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

Oxford First Dictionary Age 5+(2026 Edition)

2026 updated edition. Help children build strong early language skills with the newly updated Oxford First Dictionary - a trusted tool for supporting vocabulary development, spelling, and reading comprehension at home or at school. Key features ...

Book Cover : Paperback

The Climbers

In this compelling story of teenage rivalry and friendship, award-winning author Keith Gray captures the subtle agonies and reality of life growing up in a small town. Sully is the best climber in the village. He can scale the Twisted Sister’s ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.3
Points Value : 2
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

Tragedy At Sea: The Sinking Of The Titanic

Discover the astonishing facts about the Titanic and how it came to a catastrophic end in this illustrated, accessible and riveting account of one of history’s most famous disasters. On 10 April 1912, RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton on ...

ATOS Book Level : 6.7
Points Value : 1.0
Book Cover : Paperback

Stitch Head: The Graphic Novel

Deep in the maze-like dungeons of Castle Grotteskew, eccentric Professor Erasmus created Stitch Head, a small, almost-human creature. His experiments continued, filling the castle with creations so fabulously monstrous that Stitch Head was long ...

ATOS Book Level : 2.7
Points Value : 1.0
Book Cover : Paperback

Voyage Of The Sparrowhawk

In the aftermath of World War One, everyone is trying to rebuild their lives. If Ben is to avoid being sent back to the orphanage, he needs to find his brother Sam, wounded in action and is now missing. Lotti's horrible aunt and uncle want to send ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.6
Points Value : 9.0
Book Cover : Paperback

Journey Back To Freedom

From the horrors of the slave trade to a book that changed the world, Catherine Johnson celebrates the incredible life of Olaudah Equiano in this gripping true story. Born in what is now Nigeria in 1745, Olaudah Equiano’s peaceful childhood was ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.2
Points Value : 2.0
Book Cover : Paperback

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness

NOMINATED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR ILLUSTRATION 2026 Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her grandmother Obaachan died, though, Obon has lost its magic for ...

ATOS Book Level : 2.8
Points Value : 1.0
Book Cover : Paperback

Your Passport To Australia

What is it like to live in or visit Australia? What makes Australia’s culture unique? Explore the geography, traditions and daily lives of Australian people.

ATOS Book Level : 4.4
Points Value : 0.5
Book Cover : Hardback

Gamer

Street kid Scott jumps at the chance to be a Virtual Kombat gamer. If he can battle his way up the ranks, the ultimate prize will be his. But then his friend Kate goes missing in the battle arena, and Scott's dream turns into a nightmare ... ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.1
Points Value : 2.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

A Better Nightmare

A dark and spectacular contemporary fantasy, packed with adventure - think Beautiful Creatures meets X-Men. Emily Emerson has the Grimm. A disease nobody wants. Removed to a facility, she becomes property of the state, a pale shadow of her ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.2
Points Value : 13
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

The Housetrap

An edge-of-your-seat adventure packed full of puzzles, spooks and mystery! 'GLORIOUSLY SPOOKY AND UTTERLY SPLENDID.' HANA TOOKE, author of The Unadoptables Amity has run off into Badwell Woods. Her brother Claude goes after her, only to ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.8
Points Value : 7.0
Book Cover : Paperback

You Think You Know Me

Hanan has always been good and quiet. She accepts her role as her school's perfect Muslim poster girl. She ignores the racist bullies. A closed mouth is gold - it helps you get home in one piece. Then her friend is murdered and every Muslim is to ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.5
Points Value : 13.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

My Teacher is a Diamond Thief!

Nothing is quite as it seems for Izzy and her friends, and the drama is always off the scale! When Izzy and friends get a new teacher, they are immediately suspicious. Why does she have two computers set up on her desk? Why does she speak Spanish ...

ATOS Book Level : 5.1
Points Value : 2.0
Book Cover : Paperback

New You For Ever

Can you save the world by living for ever? Anders uncovers the sinister truth about Pleekas in this gripping dystopian thriller from award-winning author Steve Cole. The year is 2070, and the New You Foundation claim to have found the ultimate ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.4
Points Value : 2.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

My Perfect Cousin

Cousins Yasmin and Ruby have always been rivals, but both sides of the story are exposed in this cleverly composed clean-teen novella from Karen McCombie. Ruby can’t stand her “perfect” cousin Yasmin. Yasmin is pretty, popular and has a ...

ATOS Book Level : 3.6
Points Value : 1.0
Book Cover : Paperback

This title contains content which may be considered inappropriate for primary aged children

A Most Peculiar Toy Factory

Shadows of teddy bears flit across windows. Dolls whisper behind closed doors. Something has gone very wrong at Hoggle's Happy Toys. But five years after shutting its doors, the toy factory is opening again, and Tess Pipps has found herself a job ...

ATOS Book Level : 4.6
Points Value : 2.0
Book Cover : Paperback