The document provides a list of over 150 books selected by the librarian for students who have reached the Platinum level of the reading program at the Dixie Grammar School library. It notes that some books may contain more mature themes like bereavement, crime, racism, and prejudice. It also states that students can recommend additional books to be considered for the list or read non-fiction works by discussing options with the librarian. Awards won by some books are indicated in bold.

1. The Dixie Grammar School – Library Services
Platinum Reading List
These are over 150 books which have been selected by the Librarian for students who have reached the Platinum stage of the reading
programme. They are all excellent reads, with varying levels of challenge. Parents please note that whilst we recommend these books to
our Year 7-9 students, some may contain more mature themes and concepts such as bereavement, crime, racism, prejudice etc.
The books on the list are all Fiction, if students prefer to read non-fiction, such as autobiographies, they should see Mrs Robinson to
discuss how to achieve their Platinum Award. Students are welcome to recommend books to be considered for this list – please see Mrs
Robinson.
Award-Winners are shown in bold – such as Carnegie Medal, Smarties Prize, Blue Peter Award etc. They include books shortlisted for
awards so that students have plenty of choice.
Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Douglas Adams Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy Humour, Science Fiction
Richard Adams Watership Down Adventure, Animals, Award
Louisa M Alcott Little Women Classic, Families
David Almond Skellig Award, Fantasy
Laurie Halse Anderson Chains Adventure, Award, Historical, Journeys, Slavery
R J Anderson Knife Adventure, Fairies, Fantasy
Nina Bawden Carrie's War Evacuees, World War II
Julia Bertanga Exodus Adventure, Award, Science Fiction
Malorie Blackman Noughts and Crosses Love, Prejudice, Racism
Malorie Blackman Pig-Heart Boy Award, Courage
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 13/12/2011 ©DGS Library Services

2. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Tim Bowler River Boy Award, Death, Families
Frank Cottrell Boyce Millions Adventure, Award, Crime, Humour
John Boyne Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Film tie-in, Holocaust, World War II
Henrietta Branford Fire, Bed and Bone Animals, Award, Historical
Theresa Breslin Remembrance Historical, World War I
Theresa Breslin Whispers in the Graveyard Award, Ghosts, Horror
Kevin Brooks Martyn Pig Award, Crime, Death, Families, Mystery
Frances Hodgson Burnett Secret Garden Classic, Friends
Betsy Byars Midnight Fox Animals, Classic
Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland Classic, Fantasy
Anne Cassidy Looking for JJ Award, Murder, New Identity
Gennifer Choldenko Al Capone Does My Shirts Award, Disability, Family
Eoin Colfer Artemis Fowl Adventure, Crime, Fantasy
Louise Cooper Demon crossing Award, Ghosts, Horror
Susan Cooper Dark is Rising Award, Fantasy, Magic, Film tie-in
Zizou Corder Halo Adventure, Ancient Greece, Fantasy
James Dashner Maze Runner Dystopias, Science Fiction
Keren David When I Was Joe Friends, Gangs, Lies, Thriller
Joseph Delaney Spook’s Apprentice Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural
Emily Diamand Flood Child Adventure, Award, Kidnapping, Pirates
Peter Dickinson Ropemaker Award, Fantasy, Quests
Chris d'Lacey Fly, Cherokee, Fly Award, Birds, Growing Up
Jennifer Donnelly Gathering Light Award, Growing Up, Murder
Siobhan Dowd London Eye Mystery Detectives, Mystery
Paul Dowswell Auslander Adventure, Historical, World War II
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 13/12/2011 ©DGS Library Services

3. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Helen Dunmore Ingo Fantasy, Mermaids
Jeanne DuPrau City of Ember Science Fiction
Anne Fine Madame Doubtfire Families, Film tie-ins, Humour
Anne Fine Tulip Touch Award, Horror
Catherine Fisher Snow-Walker Trilogy Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Quests
Dan Freedman Kick Off Football, Sport
Cornelia Funke Inkheart Adventure, Fantasy
Neil Gaiman Graveyard Book Award, Chiller, Crime, Ghosts
Sally Gardner I, Coriander Award, Historical, Magic
Jamila Gavin Coram Boy Adventure, Award, Historical, Orphans, Slavery
Adele Geras Troy Ancient Greece, Award, Historical, War
Alan Gibbons Shadow of the Minotaur Ancient Greece, Award, Gaming, Fantasy
Morris Gleitzman Once, Now and Then Adventure, Escape, Friends, World War II
Julia Golding The Diamond of Drury Lane Adventure, Award, Historical
Keith Gray Ostrich Boys Adventure, Award, Journeys
M G Harris Joshua Files Series Adventure, Thriller
Sonya Hartnett Thursday's Child Australia, Families, Poverty
Julie Hearn Merrybegot Historical, Magic, Witches
Lian Hearn Across the Nightingale Floor Award, Fantasy, Japan, Love, War
F E Higgins Black Book of Secrets Fantasy, Mystery
Charles Higson Silverfin Adventure, Spies, Thriller
Stuart Hill Cry of the Icemark Fantasy, War
Mary Hoffman Stravaganza : city of masks Adventure, Fantasy, Time Travel
Anne Holm I am David Award, Escape, Prison
Mary Hooper At the Sign of the Sugared Plum Adventure, Historical, Plague
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 13/12/2011 ©DGS Library Services

4. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Anthony Horowitz Alex Rider novels Adventure, Spies, Thriller
Eva Ibbotson Journey to the River Sea Adventure, Award, Journeys
Paul Jennings Unbelievable Humorous short stories
Diana Wynne Jones Charmed life Award, Fantasy, Magic
Gene Kemp Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler Award, Humour, School
Ally Kennen Beast Award, Families, Monsters
Judith Kerr When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit Adventure, Escape, World War Two
Clive King Stig of the Dump Adventure, Classic, Fantasy
Dick King-Smith Sheep Pig Animals, Film tie-in
Jeff Kinney Diary of a Wimpy Kid Diaries, Humour
Suzanne LaFleur Love, Aubrey Families, Grief, Love
Elizabeth Laird Red Sky in the Morning Award, Disabilities, Families
Tanya Landman Apache Adventure, Award, Historical, Native Americans
Derek Landy Skulduggery Pleasant Adventure, Detectives, Fantasy
Ursula K Le Guin Wizard of Earthsea Fantasy, Magic, Wizards
Madeleine L'Engle Wrinkle in Time Award, Classic, Science Fiction
C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia Series Award, Classic, Fantasy
Penelope Lively Ghost of Thomas Kempe Award, Ghosts, Humour, Supernatural
Saci Lloyd Carbon Diaries 2015 Diaries, Future, Science Fiction
Pittacus Lore I am Number Four Aliens, Science Fiction, Thriller
Michelle Magorian Goodnight Mister Tom Award, Evacuees, World War II
Margaret Mahy Changeover Award, Fantasy, Supernatural
Gemma Malley Declaration Dystopias, Freedom, Science Fiction
John Marsden Tomorrow When the War Began Adventure, Australia, War
James Vance Marshall Walkabout Adventure, Australia, Classic
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 13/12/2011 ©DGS Library Services

5. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Geraldine McCaughrean Death Defying Pepper Roux Adventure, Award, Humour
Geraldine McCaughrean White Darkness Adventure, Antarctica, Award
Hilary McKay Saffy’s Angel Adoption, Families, Sisters
Sophie McKenzie Girl, Missing Adoption, Kidnapping
Robin McKinley Beauty Fantasy, Love, Magic
Andy McNab Boy soldier Action, Adventure, Thriller
Cliff McNish Breathe Ghosts, Horror
Michael Morpurgo Amazing story of Adolphus Tipps Animals, Families, War, World War Two
Michael Morpurgo Private Peaceful Adventure, Award, Brothers, World War I
Beverley Naidoo Other Side of Truth Africa, Award, Bullying
Patrick Ness Monster Calls Bereavement, Grief, Fear, Monsters
Sally Nicholls Ways to Live Forever Award, Death, Leukaemia, Uplifting
William Nicholson Wind Singer Award, Fantasy
Garth Nix Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen Adventure, Fantasy, Magic
Mary Norton Borrowers Adventure, Award, Classic, Fantasy
Pat O'Shea Hounds of the Morrigan Fantasy, Magic
Christopher Paolini Eragon Dragons, Fantasy
Katherine Paterson Bridge to Terabithia Award, Bereavement, Friends, Grief
Gary Paulsen Hatchet Award, Adventure, Survival
Michelle Paver Wolf Brother Adventure, Fantasy, Magic
Phillipa Pearce Tom’s Midnight Garden Adventure, Award, Classic, Fantasy
Mal Peet Keeper Award, Football, Sport
Anna Perera Guantanamo Boy Freedom, Kidnapping, Prison
Ann Pilling Black Harvest Classic, Horror, Ireland
Terry Pratchett Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents Award, Fantasy, Humour
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 13/12/2011 ©DGS Library Services

6. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
Maggie Prince Raider's Tide Adventure, Historical, Love
Sally Prue Cold Tom Adventure, Award, Fairies, Fantasy
Philip Pullman His Dark Materials Trilogy Award, Fantasy, Magic
Celia Rees Witch Child Historical, Supernatural, Witches
Philip Reeve Mortal Engines Adventure, Award, Science Fiction
Philip Ridley Scribbleboy Art, Award, Humour
Robert Rigby Goal! Football, Sport
Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Adventure, Award, Fantasy
J K Rowling Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Award, Fantasy, Magic, Wizards
Louis Sachar Holes Award, Crime, Film tie-ins, Thiller
Alex Scarrow TimeRiders Science Fiction, Time Travel
Marcus Sedgwick Foreshadowing Supernatural, War World War I
Marcus Sedgwick My Swordhand is Singing Award, Horror, Vampires
Ian Serrailler Silver Sword Adventure, Journeys, World War II
Anna Sewell Black Beauty Animals, Classic, Horses
Alex Shearer Speed of the Dark Science Fiction
Nicky Singer Feather Boy Bullying, Courage
Sarah Singleton Amethyst Child Cults, Friends, Secrets
Justin Somper Vampirates Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Vampires
Jerry Spinelli Stargirl Courage, Friends, Love
Robert Louis Stevenson Treasure Island Adventure, Classic, Pirates, Treasure
Paul Stewart Beyond the Deep Woods Fantasy
Jonathan Stroud Amulet of Samarkand Fantasy, Humour, Magic
Rosemary Sutcliff Eagle of The Ninth Adventure, Classic, Historical, Romans
Rosemary Sutcliff Black Ships Before Troy Ancient Greece, Award, Historical
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 13/12/2011 ©DGS Library Services

7. Author Title Genre/Keywords Read
G P Taylor Shadowmancer Fantasy, Magic, Witchcraft
Mildred D Taylor Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry Award, Classic, Prejudice, Racism, USA
Kate Thompson New Policeman Award, Fantasy, Magic, Mystery
Sandi Toksvig Hitler’s Canary Adventure, Denmark, Nazis, World War Two
J R R Tolkien Hobbit Adventure, Fantasy
Sue Townsend Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 Diaries, Humour
Jenny Valentine Finding Violet Park Award, Self Discovery
Mark Walden Higher Institute of Villainous Education Adventure, Award, Crime, Humour
Pat Walsh Crowfield Curse Award, Historical, Supernatural
Rachel Ward Numbers Adventure, Supernatural, Thriller
Robert Westall Machine Gunners Adventure, Award, War, World War Two,
E B, White Charlotte's Web Animals, Classic, Friends
T H White Sword In the Stone Adventure, Classic, Fantasy, King Arthur
Jacqueline Wilson Illustrated Mum Award, Families
Jeanette Winterson Tanglewreck Fantasy, TimeTravel
Virginia Euwer Wolff True Believer Award, Families, Relationships
Chris Wooding Malice Comic Strips, Fantasy
David Yelland Truth About Leo Bereavement, Families, Grief
Benjamin Zephaniah Refugee Boy Courage, Refugees, War
Created: 12/12/11 Updated: 13/12/2011 ©DGS Library Services