I love this time of year. It’s been wonderful to spend time looking back at the many books I’ve been able to read and review on Scope for Imagination. I’d like to share my stand-out books of this year – ones that have challenged me, empowered me, made me laugh, and made me hide under a blanket. More than one of the them has been so powerful, so heart-felt, that it’s made me cry.
Not all of these books have been published in 2023 but I’ve had the pleasure of reading them between January and December. There have been so many incredible books. Here are 22 stories everyone needs to read, organised in the order they appear on my blog.
These are books that have stayed with me – ones I can still remember where I was when I read them and elements of the story keep coming back to me. These are all books I’m sure I will still be reading and recommending for many years to come.
Click on each title to read my original review:
The Night Animals by Sarah Ann Juckes
The Bravest Word by Kate Foster
I Spy: A Bletchley Park Mystery by Rhian Tracey
The Time Tider by Sinéad O’Hart
Rivet Boy by Barabara Henderson
The Boy Who Made Monsters by Jenny Pearson
The Wall Between Us by Dan Smith
Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell
Call of the Titanic by Lindsay Galvin
The Snow Girl by Sophie Anderson
The Piano at the Station by Helen Rutter & Elissa Paganelli
Deadly Deep by Jennifer Killick
Code Name Kingfisher by Liz Kessler
Sweet Skies by Robin Scott-Elliot
The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman
Shadowhall Academy: The Whispering Walls by Phil Hickes
The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor: A Christmas Mystery by Eva Frantz & Elin Sandstrom
Libby and the Manhattan Mystery by Jo Clarke
Looking for more recommendations? Here are my favoruite books of 2022:
Books by Kate Heap:
New!!
Order Fiction & Poetry and Non-fiction for Year Two on the links below:
Books for Years 3 -6:
Scope for Imagination 