Need a summer read? We've got you.

Stories shape how we see childhood. This summer, our team shares 9 book recommendations with one thing in common: children and young people as the main characters.

From lifelong favourites to recent discoveries, each pick comes with a personal note on why it stayed with us.

• Poor – Katriona O’Sullivan
  Picked by Ally Dunhill, Director of Policy, Advocacy and Communications - “It gives a powerful, human account of how poverty shapes a child’s life, opportunities and self-worth. But also shows how education, trusted adults, practical support and belief can change a child’s life. It is especially relevant for anyone working on child poverty, education, early intervention or children’s rights because it moves the issue from statistics to lived experience.”
• Ghost Boy – Martin Pistorius
  Picked by Claire Boutry Özkan, Operations Coordinator - “A memoir about a boy, trapped in his own body for years, that shows how love, patience and human connection can give someone hope, while also exploring the challenges of caring for a severely disabled child and the failures of institutional care. Very moving story, but trigger warning for abuse.”
• My Brilliant Friend – Elena Ferrante
  Picked by Brisa Wiklund, Policy, Advocacy and Communications Intern - “This book (and the whole series) reignited a thirst for reading I hadn't felt since I was 12. Following Elena and Lila from their childhood in a poor, violent neighbourhood of 1950s Naples, through friendship and rivalry, I was gripped so completely that I read until my eyes were red!”
• The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
  Picked by Zuzana Konradova, EU Affairs Coordinator - “Although it was written in the 1960s, its storytelling feels remarkably contemporary. The themes of respect, friendship and love remain as relevant today as ever. It also offers a thought-provoking insight into mental health and the way it was understood and treated then, raising questions that, in some respects, are still relevant today. A powerful and surprisingly timeless read.”
• We Are Not Numbers: The Voices of Gaza’s Youth – edited by Ahmed Alnaouq & Pam Bailey
  Picked by Ciaran O’Donnell, Partnerships and Programmes Coordinator - “Written by a mix of young authors from Gaza over the past ten years. Some contributors started as children and are now adults, some are under 18, and others are young adults. Edited by Ahmed Alnaouq & Pam Bailey.”
• The Notebook Trilogy – Ágota Kristóf
  Picked by Davide Rambaldi, Communications Coordinator - “The story of twin brothers growing up during war, showing how violence and separation shape their lives and erase their sense of right and wrong. The more you read, the harder it gets to tell what is real and what is imagined. Harsh and bleak, but great.”
• When The World Sleeps – Francesca Albanese
  Picked by Federica Marra, Communications Officer - “A collection of ten stories. One of them tells the story of Hind, a child trapped in a car after her family was killed while fleeing. Alone, frightened, and waiting for help that never safely reached her, Hind remains on the phone with the emergency line, her voice becoming a heartbreaking testament to the suffering of children in war. Through her story, the author reflects on the lived reality of many Palestinian children.”
• Solito – Javier Zamora
  Picked by Mieke Schuurman, Director of Child Rights and Capacity Building - “A book about a 9-year old boy fleeing all by himself from El Salvador via Guatemala, Mexico to the USA to get reunited with his parents who fled several years earlier. I found it heartbreaking as it is a journey of hardship, but also about hope, love and compassion from his fellow refugees. It is based on a true story.”
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
  Picked by Juliette Hudson, Event & Child Participation Intern - “One of my favourite books growing up - a fun, captivating read. Christopher takes you along on his adventures, and while the portrayal arguably leans on some stereotypes, it's still a meaningful and comforting representation of an autistic voice and protagonist.”
• Aya – Marie-Virginie Dru
  Picked by Laure Pailleau, Child Participation and Policy Officer - “I loved how delicately it explores family, identity and resilience. It's both heartwarming and thought-provoking.”

The Eurochild team wishes you a lovely summer! And meanwhile you're having fun, do you want to support our work? Donate now! Your donation will help Eurochild make sure that children can shape the world they live in.