Senior School Book Recommendations

It is hard to believe we are half way through Term 1 and in March. The year has started strongly in Senior English, with all classes fully engaged in their class novel. Sharing a great novel with a class is still my absolute favourite part of the school day and seeing this happen across the senior school brings me such joy. 

As we know, one of the strongest predictors of student success is reading engagement. Research consistently shows that students who read frequently, widely and with genuine interest achieve higher results across all learning areas. Put simply, children who choose to read, talk about what they read and see themselves as readers are more likely to thrive at school.

Of course, fostering this engagement is not always easy. As students move into the older primary years, finding the “right” book can become more challenging. Interests become more specific, series are finished quickly, and some children can feel caught between books that seem too young and texts that feel overwhelming or contain more mature concepts. Knowing what will spark curiosity, sustain attention and build confidence can be tricky for families and teachers alike!

The good news is that we have some fabulous readers in the senior school who are eager to help.  I will endeavour to include book recommendations from our students in each Newsletter. 

I have been around the classes and asked students to share their personal book recommendations. We hope their suggestions can help inspire others and help your children find their next book.

Year 6 Recommend

Holes by Louis Sachar - Recommended by Ben

I like Holes because it’s mysterious and funny at the same time. It’s a mix of adventure and realistic fiction. I would recommend it because it keeps you guessing the whole time, and the characters feel real especially Stanley.

Year 5 Recommend

Death In The Spotlight by Robin Stevens- Recommended by Sophie

I really liked Death in the Spotlight because it’s a mystery and you get to try to solve the crime along with the characters. I like how clever Daisy and Hazel are, and how there are lots of suspects to think about. I’d recommend it if you like historical fiction and mysteries that keep you guessing right until the end.

Year 4 Recommend 

Polly and Buster by Sally Rippin - Recomended by Maggie

I absolutely love Polly and Buster because it’s so entertaining and imaginative. It’s a fantasy story about a witch and a monster who aren’t really supposed to be friends. I would definitely recommend it to kids with a big imagination who love magical worlds and stories that are a bit different.

Year 3 Recommend

Wolf Girl by Anh Do - Recommended by Luella

I love Wolf Girl because it’s such an exciting adventure story. I would recommend it to anyone who likes strong characters and books that make you feel like you’re in the wild.  There are lots of other great books in this series too.

Claire Dusting

Year 5 Teacher and Senior School English Leader

cdusting@sjelst.catholic.edu.au