My Top Books of 2020
Even though 2020 was a tough year for all of us, it meant we all had the opportunity to read more books than we might have under regular circumstances. Here are my favourite books which I read in 2020:
1. The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q Raúf
Illustrator: Pippa Curnick
Age Rating: 9+
Publisher: Orion Publishing
First Published: 2018
The Boy at the Back of the Class is one of my favourite books. It focuses on Ahmet, the new boy at school. He doesn't talk to anyone and isn't allowed out at breaktime. But then Miss Khan's class find out that Ahmet isn't strange at all: He's a refugee, who has fled a war in Syria. I liked how it touched upon the serious matter of war and immigration in a child-friendly way; this book is great to introduce kids to the concept of immigration, and is still a really good book for teens and young adults!
2. Pig Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman
Age Rating: 10+
Publisher: Corgi
First Published: 1997
Cameron is 13. All he wants is to be a normal kid, to be able to go swimming, to play football, to be able to join in with his friends. And the only thing holding him back is a heart defect. Then one day, his dad contacts a doctor who has a potential way to cure Cameron's heart. But it's risky, controversial and has never been done before. I thought the writing was captivating, and really made you want to read on. Overall, a brilliant book.
3. Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan
Age Rating: 8+
Publisher: Chicken House
First Published: 2019
Asha lives at home with her mother and younger brother and sister. Her father, who works in the city, sends money every month: until one day, he stops. Asha is determined to find out has happened to him; and with the help of her best friend Jeevan, goes on an amazing adventure. I thought the writing was really descriptive, and the storyline was engaging and full of twists and turns.
4. Cogheart by Peter Bunzl
Age Rating: 9+
Publisher: Usbourne
First Published: 2016
Lily's father is missing, and now she's being stalked by strange and suspicious men. She and her friends Robert and Malkin, her mechanical fox are soon immersed in secrets about their pasts- and Lily realises that all is not what it seems. Cogheart is beautifully written, and the characters really feel like real people; you care about what happens to them next.
5. Vicky Angel by Jacqueline Wilson
Age Rating: 10+
Publisher: Corgi Yearling
First Published: 2000
Vicky and Jade have been best friends since reception, and they do everything together. After Vicky dies dramatically in a car accident, Jade finds it impossible to cope- and worries that it might be all her fault. Although it sounds morbid, it's easy to read, and I really liked the author's perspective of Jade's thoughts and emotions.
I also really enjoyed the following books which I have mentioned in previous posts:
- Wonder by R. J. Palacio
- I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
- Dare To Be You by Matthew Syed
- Ruby Redfort: Look Into my Eyes by Lauren Child
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