Elin, aged 14, praises Remembrance, by Theresa Breslin: "This poignant story of the loss and sadness of the First World War is expertly told by Carnegie Medal-winning author Theresa Breslin. It is the story of five young people growing up during the war and the effects war and fighting have on them.

"This is one of those books that will leave you shocked and saddened; I defy anyone who has read this book not to be left with a tear in their eye at the end. Truly one of the best modern books and one that will stay with you for the rest of you life."

Coram Boy, by Jamila Gavin, is highly recommended by Tesni, aged 13: "It is amazing. It is full of emotion and adventure. It made me cry loads of times, but the ending is superb. It is the story of a man who takes illegitimate babies to a foundling hospital where they are supposed to be brought up. But this man Otis is evil. He kills the babies which the parents give to him along with a lot of money to keep them. They never reach the Coram Home in London. Also it tells the story of the Ashbrooks, a well-off family. Alexander loves music and has a wonderful voice, but his father makes him give up music. This causes Alex to run away. Then Melissa (a distant relation) has Alex's baby but they give him to Otis. To find out what happens after that you need to read the book!"

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman was recommended by Danielle Hall, 11: “You really feel like you've been pulled into the story and feel everything Lyra feels. Emma Littlehales, 10, also recommends it because “it makes me think of different worlds and what it would be like to live in one. It helps me to escape into a different world for a while.”

Will Flint recommends Face by Benjamin Zephaniah: "It's about a boy who lives in east London, and has everything he wants. But his whole world gets turned upside-down in a car-crash in a stolen car."

Harriet Houlsby recommends The Tiger in the Well “because it has lots of little bits in the plot that make you stop and think about it for a bit, so it would last me a long time - and then I would probably read it again!”. She also recommends The Tin Princess “because I think the idea of the “Cockney Queen” (Adelaide) being the perfect queen is really cool.”

Anthony Kent, 12, thought that The Wave by Morton Rhue was fascinating: “I enjoyed The Wave . . . I was given it in a book give-away. It was about the Nazis and how such a number of people can be led astray by the figurehead of one person and the thought of purity.”

Tom Powell, 12, was fascinated by Holes by Louis Sachar: “It is a great adventure with a boy called Stanley. He has to choose to go to prison or camp side green lake, and there he has to dig a hole 5 feet wide and 5 feet deep. He makes lots of friends and has lots of adventures.” Jemma Jenkins, 13, liked another Louis Sachar book, There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom: “Bradley is the most hated boy in the school and then a new boy comes to school and makes friends with him . . . This story is a perfect example that the most difficult people can still make friends.”

Caitlin Scott thought that The Spirit House by William Sheater “. . . was adventure, mystery and a thriller!”

Zaynah Arshad, 11, thoroughly enjoyed The Stranger by Richard Tankersley Cusick. She wrote that it is “adventurous and breathtaking . . . it's a horror story . . . once you've picked it up you can't put it down.”

Annam Ahmad, 11, and Megan Harries both recommended Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah. Megan writes, “This book is about a little Chinese girl whose mother died when she was born. Her family count her as bad luck because of it. She is top of her class and very clever. Adeline's Aunt Baba has to bring her up. My favourite part was when Adeline received her pet duckling which she loved very much, but it died. I think girls would enjoy this book about ages 12 - 15.”

Greg Flucker, 12, was impressed by Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah: “This book makes you realise that even though you think you are unlucky that there are a lot more people worse off than you.” And Tabitha Francis enjoyed Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin: she thoroughly recommends it to anyone aged 11-14.

One More River by Lynne Reid Banks was recommended by Rachel Myerson, 11, who wrote: “In this book it shows a strong family bond and a strong community bond, both of which I think are very important. It shows how a girl adapts to living in Israel and you feel that by the end of the book she is a nicer person. But the thing which caught my attention was in the part of the book when there was a war going on and how everyone helped and worked together. It gives out a very strong message.”

Don't be put off the classics by people saying they are difficult. Harriet Houlsby, 13, was keen to recommend two which she had thoroughly enjoyed. The first was Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: “because it is quite long and it always seems new, however many times you read it.” The other was The Mill on the Floss by George Elliot “because it always makes me cry.”

Joseph Bassilious, 12, wrote about All we know of heaven by Peter Crowther: “ . . . it is a good story and a chilling story. I feel I could read it over and over again.”

Heather Golding, 17, asks, “How about Boy and Going Solo by Roald Dahl, one volume, 50p in Oxfam?? Pretty good I thought - specially as I've been looking for those for years."

Helen Coney, 17, rates Peter Dickinson's work, her favourite being The Seventh Raven. Helen notes, “His books are written for a huge age range and this one is definitely for the older reader.”

Helen Coney, 18, writes: “I love Stephen Elboz. He has written for all age ranges and my particular favourite is The House of Rats closely followed by A Handful of Magic. It's so full of adventure and unpredictability. Another favourite of mine is Catherine Fisher who wrote the Snow Walker Trilogy. The characters are so wonderful and you really grow to love them and are sad when you reach the end. I should also mention Charles Ashton whose books are brilliant - very fantasy orientated but well worth the read."

Lewis Mitchell, 13, rated Zulus girls and Videos by John Farman: “I liked this book because it has a good description of teenage life and the characters in it were so realistic and the plot had so many ups and downs.”

Georgia Barnett, 11, and Caitlin Scott both recommended Tulip Touch by Anne Fine. Caitlin said, “It chilled the blood.” Harriet Houlsby, 13, said about Tulip Touch, “ . . . although I have already read it about a hundred times, I still really like the character of Tulip, and you could think about it for hours." Harriet also liked Goggle Eyes “because I feel the same way as Kitty Killin about things like nuclear warheads and because it is just really funny.”

Charlotte Sapier really enjoyed Anne Fine's Bad Dreams and said of it “This book was great. I read it in two days because it was so good I could never put it down.” Charlotte also recommended Charm School because she read it on holiday; she always connects reading the book with that holiday now. Jemma Jenkins also liked Charm School: “A girl is sent to charm school for a day but she does not want to go . . . ”.

Point Blanc by Antony Horowitz: “. . . it is so action-packed and I could never get bored of it.” (Charlotte Sapier, 11). Rosie Wainwright also thoroughly recommends his Stormbreaker which is one of her favourite books ever.

Joe Beckwith, 11, was enthusiastic about Cold Tom by Sally Prue: “Tom, the member of the Tribe (the Elf-type creatures that live on this planet with us) is a danger to his species. The Tribe say he cannot live. He is forced to flee to a Demon (Human) city where the Tribe cannot find him. He flees to a Demon house and is taken in by a friendly Demon called Anna. There she feeds him buns, even though his main diet is meat, and then, by accident, he blows up the shed in which he is being kept . . . This is a good book for 10-15 year olds. It is a thrilling read all the way through and will always keep you on the edge of your seat.” Special Note: this book won the coveted Branford Boase Award on 26 June 2002: visit www.henriettabranford.co.uk to find out more.