Secondary school can be a challenging time for young people. As well as facing academic pressures they must navigate changing social circles, increasingly addictive social media and a loneliness epidemic in which teens are the most affected group.
This experience is captured perfectly in Luke Palmer's debut Barrington Stoke novel Big Words, a gritty yet sensitive portrayal of the trials and tribulations of growing up and the strain this can put on friendship groups who are balancing vulnerability with the pressure to conform.
Inspired by Big Words, we wanted to shine a spotlight on some Barrington Stoke reads that examine the often-complicated world of boys' friendships, so we've put together a booklist of recommended reading that highlights the hijinks, hilarity and occasional heartbreak that comes with having a best mate.
Scroll to the bottom of the blog to learn more about Big Words and how to get in touch about bulk discounts for schools.
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Bigfoot and the Wild Boys by Jenny Pearson
Joe is tired of being called average and feeling completely forgettable at school. With the start of secondary school approaching at the end of the summer holidays, he's keen to make a name for himself. So when he hears that a Bigfoot-like beast has been spotted in some nearby woods, he senses an opportunity. Surely capturing Bigfoot will make him stand out from the crowd and bring him the popularity he longs for?
With no real plan or survival skills, Joe and his best friend Tiago set off on what turns out to be an unforgettably hilarious quest with some very unexpected results!
Game Over! by Serena Patel
Can you be true to yourself without losing your friends along the way? Jay is excited about a game-design project being worked on by the Computing Club at school. He wants to join in, but there’s a big problem.
Jay’s friends think Computing is only for nerds and they want him to join a new football team with them. Both activities happen at the same time, so Jay has to choose. Can he find the courage to tell his friends how he really feels, and if he does, will it mean their friendship is over …?
Under the Skin by Catherine MacPhail
At last, Omar's family are safe and have somewhere to live. But life in a new country isn't easy and life on the estate is proving even harder thanks to Sam. Sam's always there – in Omar's tower block, in his class, and in his face. He wants to push Omar around, but Omar's not giving up on his new life and he's ready to push back.
Cold Turkey by Simon James Green
Can a TURKEY bring best friends Hamza and Kit back together? Kit is furious following a betrayal by his oldest friend, Hamza –over a girl?! He wants nothing to do with him until the boys are offered a lot of money to do a job for one of their neighbours.
The job is to deliver a turkey to an address across London before it gets cold. Weird but pretty simple, right? But that’s before it turns into a hilarious, hysterical race against time, the police, the bomb squad and a scary street gang. Can Kit and Hamza make it in time, and will they ever speak to each other again if they do?
Northern Soul by Phil Earle
Marv’s fourteen and his life is simple. There’s football. And his best mate, Jimmy. Perfect. Nothing else matters until a new girl at school called Carly crashes into his life. For Marv, it’s love at first sight, his emotions flipped upside down, as he knows a girl like Carly will never notice him.
He needs help – lots of it – but when it miraculously arrives in the shape of a musical idol from the past, the path to Carly’s heart proves anything but easy …
First love is unforgettable, and poor Marv is about to learn this the hard way – him, and his northern soul …
The Climbers by Keith Gray
Sully is the best climber in the village. He can scale the Twisted Sister’s tangled branches and clamber up Double Trunker with ease. But when new kid Nottingham shows up and astonishes everyone with his climbing skills, Sully’s status is under threat and there’s only one way to prove who’s best. Sully and Nottingham must race to climb the last unnamed tree. Whoever makes it to the top will become a legend. But something spiteful and ugly has reared its head in Sully … Is it worth losing everything just to reach the top?
Language usage: moderate
The Den by Keith Gray
Marshall feels the need to escape because things are so tough at home. Rory is just happy it’s the first day of the summer holidays. While out on their bikes they stumble across a long-forgotten underground bunker at the edge of the woods. This is the den, and going down inside will stretch their friendship to its limits. There will be rivalry and betrayal, but can wrecked relationships be saved before the summer has even begun?
Language usage: moderate
The List by Keith Gray
It’s the end of the summer and Denny is having to move away with his mum now that she’s found a good job, but he’s not planning on leaving quietly. He’s made a list of scores to settle and wrongs to right before he goes. He asks his best friend, Jake, to help.
Jake is absolutely gutted that Denny is leaving and worries what life will be like without him. Of course he’ll do anything to help, no matter how weird or unrealistic the items on Denny’s list might be. But the list is more powerful than either of them realise – it can make and break friendships.
Language usage: mild
Mind the Gap by Phil Earle
When Mikey's dad died, something in Mikey died too. He loved his old man and he never stopped dreaming that one day his dad would land the role of a lifetime, prove them all wrong, and rock back up to the estate in the flashiest car anyone had ever seen. Now there's just numbness, and not caring, and really, really stupid decisions. He says the worst of it is that he can't even remember his dad's voice any more. Eventually Mikey's best mate can't bear it any more, and so he sets out to give Mikey the memories – and his dad's voice – back.
Language usage: moderate
Kerb-Stain Boys by Alex Wheatle
Life on the Crongton estate can be rough for Briggy. Dad's lost his job, Mum's working so hard to make ends meet, and big brother Kingsley just wants out. With all of the shouting and arguing it's difficult not to get lost in the mix. So when his best mate Terror and coolest chick in the year Caldonia, cook up a plan to make a quick buck, Briggy hopes this time it might be his chance to shine. Robbing the Post Office … what could go wrong?
Language usage: moderate
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Big Words by Luke Palmer - available now
Learn more about the brand-new short read from award-winning YA author, poet, and secondary school teacher Luke Palmer.
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 the others how it’s done.
His mates aren’t so keen. But there’s no complaining. No backing down. Those are the other rules of Kiln. Even when they lead to disaster.
Will their friendship survive the wreckage that follows, or is it time for the rules to be changed?
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Supporting materials
Read 'Author's Voices: Luke Palmer on Getting Teen Boys Reading' on the LoveReading4Kids website.
Watch Luke Palmer introduce Big Words:
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Get in touch to learn more about the bulk discounts we offer for schools: barringtonstokeschools@harpercollins.co.uk
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