Modern Challenge Books
Here we have gathered together the best of modern classics. Generally written in the last 50 years, these books are much easier to read, whilst still making you think deeply.
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Noughts and Crosses
Malorie Blackman (2001)
In a futuristic London, with a deeply-divided society, the Crosses have the best of everything - the best education, jobs and houses. Sephy is a Nought and Callum is a Cross. They have been friends since they were children but are beginning to realise the barriers that divide them. Against a backdrop of violence and strained loyalties, Callum and Sephy attempt to find a way to be together. Easy to read and gripping, this book points out the insidiousness and the illogicity of racism.
words: 97,000
book level: 4.0
The Wheel of Surya
Jamila Gavin (1992)
Set at the time of the separation of India and Pakistan, and against a backdrop of British colonialism, we follow Marvinder and her young brother who have to flee when their village farm is burnt. Realising that their only option is to make it to England, they begin a perilous journey. 1950s England is not a hugely welcoming place to adjust to. A fascinating whirl through a crucial period of history and a fast-paced adventure story.
words: 93,000
book level: 5.9
Face
Benjamin Zephaniah (1999)
Martin is a popular guy - friendly, confident and assertive. People know him and his friends and they like them. Just when he is riding high, his life is turned upside down when he is involved in a horrific car crash. His life changes and what makes it worse is that he knows that it is all his his own fault. This is hard to take but when he notices the pity on everyone’s face, life becomes unbearable. Zephaniah is an absolutely brilliant writer and this book is direct and honest. Set in modern-day North London, and full of action, it is easy to read and impossible to put down.
words 44,000
book level 5.3
A Wizard of Earthsea
Ursula Le Guin (1968)
This epic fantasy tale follows Ged as he makes his way in the world of Earthsea. When he meets a magician at the age of 12, Ged is determined to master the secrets of wizardry. Hungry for power and knowledge, he tampers with long-held secrets, unleashing a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance. An epic read and the origin of so many fantasy tales.
words: 56,000
book level: 6.7
Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card (1985)
Ender’s Game is set in a future world under threat from an unknown outside force. When the diminutive Ender is caught fighting in his school, his exceptional skills are noted, offering him the chance to escape his humble beginnings. Much of the book's action takes place in a tough cadet camp where elite teenagers are trained as future fighters. His youth and size make Ender a constant target but his steely determination carry him through most challenges. This fantastic story makes the idea of teenage fighters plausible while examining the emotional effect of bearing the hero’s burden.
words 101,000
book level 5.5
Smith
Leon Garfield (1985)
A wild adventure ride through the streets of Victorian London but told by a modern author. Smith is an illiterate young pickpocket living in the London slums. When he steals from an important-looking gentleman, only to watch that man be brutally murdered in front of his eyes, Smith realises that he has stolen more than just a wallet. Soon he is being chased across London for the documents in his possession. This book is easy to read, and the fast-paced action makes it difficult to put down.
words 50,000
book level 6.1
The Road
Cormac McCarthy (1985)
This haunting story describes man and his son “the boy” trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic nightmare world in North America. The ecological disaster has devastated the land and the humans that have survived are as big a problem as the lack of food. Short but epic, this book is brutally honest about the worst of human behaviour but somehow uplifting. The pair struggle to find a way to survive with danger all around them.
words 59,000
book level 4.0
The Guardians
John Christopher (1970)
This futuristic story, set in 2052, describes an England split into two parallel societies – the Conurbs and the County. One is a modernised world where the society is focussed on the never-ending war with China, whilst being diverted by sports and cheap entertainment. The County, however is a traditional rural society dominated by a landed elite. When Rob manages to break across the barrier between the two worlds, he realises the importance of freedom.
words 43,000
book level 5.5
Stone Cold
Robert Swindells (1993)
When Link runs away from home, he feels he has no choice. His stepfather is aggressive and he feels he has to leave. He soon finds out however how tough it is on the streets. He’s only 14 so he has to keep out of sight of the police. As well as being full of realistic description and gritty detail, the story line is dramatic and keeps the reader hooked. Swindells has written a number of brilliant books. You should give him a try.
words 44,000
book level 5.3
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Mildred D. Taylor (1976)
This book tells the story of one year in nine-year-old Cassie‘s life. She lives in Mississippi in the 1930s in a deeply racist time. Many futuristic books look at the idea of a divided society and it is always strange to see how many societies of the past were divided. This story is all the more powerful because it has a child narrator. Cassie’s family are close and loyal to each other and this keeps them strong through the difficult times. This brilliant book gives you an eyewitness perspective on important time in world history.