Ransom Publishing Catalogue for Struggling Readers
SPECIALIST BOOKS FOR RELUCTANT & STRUGGLING READERS
What do the Interest & Reading Ages mean?
All our books have an interest age. The interest age is the age that the book was written to appeal to. Our books also have a reading age. The reading age is about matching the book to the ability of the reader.
So, if a nine-year-old child is reading at the level of an average seven-year-old, a book with an interest age of 8–12 years and a reading age of 6–7 years will be suitable for them. It will be age-appropriate and accessible.
What do the Book Band colours mean?
Another way to level books is by Book Band. The Book Band system is an official scheme used around the world.
There are 11 official levels that all UK educational publishers work to. Each level, or band, has been given a colour (Pink through to Lime), and children progress through these bands.
Publishers have added extra levels: Lilac, for wordless books, as well as colours following Lime. The chart below shows you the average age of children at each of the Bands.
(Pssst! If you want a range of our titles at a certain band, you can find pre-selected packs on our website. We are also happy to arrange bespoke ‘banded’ collections. Just get in touch with your requirements.)
What do the Accelerated Reader levels mean?
Many of our books are quizzed for Accelerated Reader (AR), a system used in some schools to support children’s reading development.
The books are independently levelled for AR, giving each title an interest level (e.g. MY) and a book level (e.g. 2.4). Children can then progress through the levels.
(Pssst! If you want a range of our titles at certain AR levels, you can find pre-selected packs on our website. We are also happy to arrange bespoke AR collections. Just get in touch with your requirements.)
Books for football fans
Tales from the Pitch
These fictionalised biographies reveal, in a fresh, pundit-like voice, the inspiring stories behind football’s top players and managers.
They are perfect for 7-14 year-olds with a reading age of 9-10.
Tales from the Pitch
Complete Pack
£181.74* (26 books – 1 of every title)
*As of January 1st 2025, books individually £7.99 each. Tales from the Pitch Complete Pack £207.74.
Books individually £6.99 each*
Harry Coninx
Matt Carver
Robin Adams
128 pages, black and white throughout
“I’d go as far as saying these books have the
potential
to ignite a child’s love of reading.”
The SEN
Resources Blog
Book Band: Tales from the Pitch books are Dark Blue and Dark Red Band
A Tales from the Pitch book is this thick!
Books for football fans
Goal!
A structured programme of 48 phonics-based titles. Great at engaging reluctant readers aged 6-14 with a reading age of 4-7, the fiction and non-fiction covers a range of football-related topics and stories.
Goal! Complete Pack
£221.52
(48 books – 1 of every title)
Goal! Level 1 Pack
£23.94
• Based on ‘Letters and Sounds’ Phase 1
• 6 books - individually
£3.99 each
• Wordless books to introduce students to narrative
Goal! Level 3 Pack
£69.86
• Based on ‘Letters and Sounds’ Phase 3
• 14 books - individually
£4.99 each
10-18 pages, full colour illustrations throughout
Book Band: Goal! books are Lilac, Pink, Red, Yellow, Blue and Green Band
“An absolute triumph in reaching out to older pupils, usually boys, who have never mastered reading.”
Margaret
Coleman, Head Teacher
• Continues to introduce letters and sounds, and builds more complex sounds
Goal! Level 5 Pack
£23.96
• Based on ‘Letters and Sounds’ Phase 5
• 4 books - individually
£5.99 each
• Extends vocabulary to include more irregular letters and sounds
Goal! Level 2 Pack
£63.84
• Based on ‘Letters and Sounds’ Phase 2
• 16 books - individually £3.99 each
• Introduces the main letters and sounds, CVCs and some complex football words
Goal! Level 4 Pack
£39.92
• Based on ‘Letters and Sounds’ Phase 4
• 8 books - individually £4.99 each
• Introduces more consonant blending, and more complex football words
Featuringbooks written by footballlegends like Rachel Yankey and David James!
Funny books about boys’ mad
Ideal for reluctant readers aged 7-12 with a reading age of 8-9.
These ‘handwritten’ diary entries relate the laughout-loud exploits of Peter Ian Green – but you can call him PIG!
Books individually £5.99 each
Barbara Catchpole 52 pages, black and white illustrations throughout
“Y7 boy had never finished a book in his life. He’s now finished 6 PIG books just this half term and told me today his family are celebrating!”
Eileen Armstrong, Librarian
PIG Complete Pack
£107.82 (18 books – 1 of every title)
A PIG book is this thick!
Book
Funny books about boys’ mad adventures
Fergus and Daniel
Two siblings, some kooky magic and a whole lot of silliness...
These are two hilarious stories that 7-9 year-olds will want to pick up and read.
Books individually £7.99 each Emily Snape 224-240 pages, black and white illustrations throughout
Book Band: All Fergus and Daniel books are Dark Blue Band
“A great addition to any classroom book corner with lots of potential for discussion as a class read.”
Sam, Goodreads 5 stars
Fergus the Furball
When Daniel’s parents give him a plant for his tenth birthday present, he’s not impressed. (What happened to the PET he’d begged for?!)
Can you really blame him for wishing he had a guinea pig instead of a brother – or for the fact it actually came true!
Now the race is on to somehow undo the magic before his parents find out. (And to save his brother of course. Even if he is eating his own poo.)
Daniel’s Double Trouble
Ah...ah...achooooo! When Daniel realises that a sneeze is all it takes to send him back an hour in time, he is BEYOND annoyed.
But then he discovers that there’s been a theft at his school – and his new magical powers don’t seem quite so pointless...
Can Daniel sneeze his way to catching the culprit and saving the day?
Or will his plan go seriously wrong? After all, time travel is a risky business and not everything is as it seems.
Emily Snape is a well-known children’s author and illustrator whose work has appeared in books, magazines, and on television internationally. She lives in London with her three children and insists that none of them would ever attempt to turn each other into a guinea pig, or risk the fate of the universe by travelling through time.
Boffin Boy
This manga-style series is great for reluctant readers aged 8-14 with a reading age of 6-7.
The books are full of action and wacky humour, and were selected as one of the Times ’Top 100 Books for Boys’.
Books individually £5.99 each
David Orme
36 pages, full colour illustrations throughout
“My son - who never wants to read - actually picked up a Boffin Boy book I left in his bedroom, and is now asking for the next one!”
Liz Kavanagh, Parent
Book Band: Boffin Boy books are Turquoise, Purple and Gold Band
Boffin Boy Complete Pack
£107.82 (18 books – 1 of every title)
A Boffin Boy book is this thick!
321 Go!
Ideal for 8-14 year-olds with a reading age of 6-7, these are dramatic, second-by-second first-person accounts of wild sports, stunts and missions.
Hold on tight!
321 Go! Complete Pack £35.94 (6 books – 1 of every title)
Books individually £5.99 each
Stephen Rickard 36 pages, full colour illustrations throughout
“One of my pupils referred to the books as ‘amazing’ and I would agree.”
Maureen
Barrow, Specialist Teacher
Book Band: 321 Go! books are Purple and Gold Band
A 321 Go! book is this thick!
Toxic
From zombies and swamps to robots and time-travel, reluctant readers aged 9-12 with a reading age of 7-11 will be hooked from the first sentence of these fast-moving reads.
Across the ten books there is some subtle progression, with two books at each ‘step’.
Toxic Complete Pack £69.90 (10 books – 1 of every title)
Books individually £6.99 each Jonny Zucker
John Townsend
80 pages, black and white illustrations throughout
Book Band: Toxic books are Lime, Brown, Grey, Dark Blue and Dark Red Band
A Toxic book is this thick!
Zone 13
Science fiction for 8-14 year-olds with a reading age of 8-9. Some of the stories are comic, while others have dark and gripping themes – but they will all appeal to readers with a love of the unexplained.
Pick Your Path
Ideal for 11-16 year-olds with a reading age of 7-8.
With a choice to make on every page, these books are fully interactive adventures where the reader decides what happens next.
Pick Your Path Complete Pack
£20.97 (3 books – 1 of every title)
Books individually £5.99 each
David Orme 48 pages, black and white illustrations throughout
Book Band: All Zone 13 books are White Band
A Zone 13 book is this thick!
Book Band: All Pick Your Path books are Lime Band
A Pick Your Path book is this thick!
Books individually £6.99 each
Dan Metcalf 40 pages, black and white illustrations throughout
NOTE: These books contain some graphic language and may not be suitable for children under 11 or with particular special needs. If you’re unsure whether they’re right for you, feel free to get in contact.
An alien battle craft attacks your lunar mining base...
A hoard of wraiths are after your magical ring... Zombies are attacking your burger van...
Relatable books about girls
Siti’s Sisters
Ideal for 9-14 year-olds with a reading age of 7-8. These perfectly-pitched stories are about a group of girls who call themselves ‘The Sisters’, and cover a range of real life issues.
We think Set 4 is more suitable for readers who are aged 11 and above.
Books individually £5.99 each Helen Orme 36 pages, black and white illustrations throughout
“Spot on... A bit like Jacqueline Wilson for those who can’t yet manage too much prose on the page.”
SecEd
Siti’s Sisters Complete Pack £143.76 (24 books – 1 of every title)
Book Band: Siti’s Sisters books are Turquoise, Purple and Gold Band
A Siti’s Sisters book is this thick!
Feely
Great for reluctant readers aged 7-12 with a reading age of 8-9.
These ‘handwritten’ diary entries relate the laugh-out-loud exploits of lovable (and feisty) Feely Tonks.
Feely Complete Pack
£35.94 (6 books – 1 of every title)
Book Band: All Feely books are White Band
A Feely book is this thick!
Why Haven’t We Seen Aliens?
Perfect for able readers aged 9-12, this non-fiction book uses our knowledge of the universe, some simple maths and a little bit of intelligent speculation to take a logical but light-hearted look at our chances of meeting aliens.
Hardback
£9.99
Paperback
£6.99
Stephen Rickard 248 pages, black and white illustrations throughout
Book Band: Aliens is Dark Red Band
Books individually
£5.99 each
Barbara Catchpole 52 pages, black and white illustrations throughout
Never Odd or Even
A mystery with a difference for able readers aged 9-12. Eliot loves number and word patterns (just take a look ‘back’ at the title), and is using his skills to solve a mystery. But readers can solve it themselves – the answer is hidden in a series of puzzles in plain sight!
£6.99
John Townsend 136 pages, black and white throughout
Book Band: Never Odd or Even is Dark Red Band
Thunderbolts
A
Set 1 books have no words, and the
Books individually £5.99 each
David Orme
Helen Orme
36 pages, full colour illustrations throughout
“I love seeing bored faces crack into smiles when I lay the books out on the table.”
David
Kendall, Reading Engagement Specialist
Complete Pack
£143.76 (24 books – 1 of every title)
Book Band: Thunderbolts books are Lilac, Red, Yellow, Blue and Orange Band. A Thunderbolts book is this thick!
Visual
Trailblazers & Starstruck
Covering a range of ‘wow factor’ topics, these books are ideal for engaging 8-14 year-olds with a reading age of 6-8 years – and a love of fast facts!
Books individually
£5.99 each
David Orme, Helen Orme, Cathy West 36 pages, full colour illustrations throughout
“The perfect books for reluctant readers with very low attention spans.”
ABC Magazine Sussex
Trailblazers & Starstruck
Complete Pack
£65.89 (11 books – 1 of every title)
Book Band:
Trailblazers & Starstruck books are Turquoise, Purple and Gold Band
Trailblazers & Starstruck books are this thick!
Reading Stars Plus Book Bands
Ideal for supporting 9-14 year-olds with a reading age of 4-7, this is a progressive Book Band programme (Pink to Orange) to develop reading skills.
Books individually £4.50 each 12-16 pages, full colour illustrations throughout
Reading Stars Plus Book Band Pack
£81.00 (18 books – 1 of every title)
Using a systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) teaching programme?
Discover Reading Stars Achieve Phonics (part of Ransom’s ‘Learning to Read’ range) – a collection of 98 fully decodable books, specially designed to support the formal teaching of SSP to 7-14 year-olds.
New phonics knowledge introduced very gradually, from the beginning of Letters and Sounds Phase 2 to the end of Phase 5
Free matching charts to align the books to the teaching sequences of many popular SSP programmes (including our own!)
Dyslexia friendly
For more info, see our separate leaflet, head to our website, or get in touch...
Reading Stars Plus Yellow Band Pack
Neutron Stars
Ideal for supporting teens and adults with a reading age of 4-7, this is a progressive reading programme to develop reading skills.
4 phonics-based levels (based around Phases 2-5 of ‘Letter and Sounds’)
6 Book Band levels (Pink to Orange)
Neutron Stars Phonics Pack
£75.00 (12 books – 1 of every title)
Neutron Stars Book Band Pack
£112.50 (18 books – 1 of every title)
Books individually £6.25 each
36 pages, full colour illustrations throughout
Neutron Stars
Neutron
Neutron
Neutron
Neutron Stars Pink Band Pack £18.75
Neutron Stars Yellow Band Pack
Really low level, gritty reads
Dark Man
Follow the mysterious Dark Man’s fight against evil...
Acclaimed around the world, this atmospheric series is renowned for engaging reluctant readers aged 13-adult with a reading age of 5-8. Sets 1 and 2 are lower level reads, while Sets 3 and 4 are higher, offering progression. There are also plays which are ideal for engaging small reading groups.
Dark Man Complete Pack £167.77 (30 books – 1 of every title)
Books individually £4.99-£5.99 each
Peter Lancett 36-48 pages, black and white illustrations throughout
“I can only recommend you try these very innovative books for yourself.”
Kate Brown, SENCO
A Dark Man book is this thick!
DARK MAN SET 1 £29.94 (Six Books)
DARK MAN SET 2 £29.94 (Six Books)
DARK MAN SET 3 £35.94 (Six Books)
Book Band:
Dark Man books are Orange, Turquoise, Purple and Gold Band
Steve Sharp
Great for readers aged 13 and above with a reading age of 5-7, this series follows Steve Sharp, a private detective trying to do the right thing in a world of organised crime. Designed to be read in sequence, the white text on black paper is ideal for dyslexic readers.
Books individually £5.99 each H. L. Dube
36 pages, black and white illustrations throughout
Steve Sharp
Complete Pack
£35.94
(6 books – 1 of every title)
A Steve Sharp book is this thick!
DARK MAN SET 4 £35.94 (Six Books)
DARK MAN THE PLAYS £35.94 (Six Books)
Book Band:
Steve Sharp books are Orange and Turquoise Band
Adult Shades
Ideal for reluctant readers aged 13 and above, with a reading age of 9-10, who are looking for the excitement of a great story, but find longer novels too daunting.
The books cover a variety of genres, and are roughly 6,000 words each. There are also three short story collections – ‘Shades Shorts’.
Shades Complete Pack £149.75 (25 books – 1 of every title)
Books individually £5.99 each 64 pages, black and white throughout
Book Band: Shades books are Grey Band and Shades Shorts books are Brown Band
A Shades book is this thick!
Sharp Shades
Shorter versions of some of the Shades titles (opposite), as well as some different titles. Perfect for readers aged 13 and above who want an even quicker read, these ‘sharper’ versions are roughly 3,000 words each, with a larger font and illustrations. They have a slightly lower reading age of 8-9.
Sharp Shades Complete Pack
£95.84
(16 books – 1 of every title)
Books individually
£5.99 each 64 pages, black and white illustrations throughout
Book Band: All Sharp Shades books are Lime Band
Jump
Rudi and Steven have found YouTube fame as ‘The Vidiots’. But are their new plans going too far? A gripping title for teens with a reading age of 10 years.
£6.99
Fanie Viljoen 108 pages, black and white throughout
Scarred Lions
When Buyisiwe is forced to move to Africa, to live with the father he’s never met, he discovers a scarred lion is on the prowl... Great for able-but-reluctant teen readers.
Book Band: Jump is Dark Blue Band
£7.99
Fanie Viljoen 176 pages, black and white throughout
Books for 13 to Adult
Breakouts
These short chapter books are ideal for teens with a reading age of 10, who are ready for a more challenging read, but not a full length novel.
From hauntings and horror to shark attacks and mysteries, each of these modern adventures is a quick win.
Books individually £6.99 each 64 pages, black and white throughout
Breakouts
Complete Pack
£55.92 (8 books – 1 of every title)
“I’m so pleased my son’s school showed him these books. They’ve really helped build his confidence with reading.”
Chris Walker, Parent
Book Band: Breakouts books are Lime, Brown, Grey, and Dark Blue Bands
A Breakouts book is this thick!
Vampire Dawn
A fresh take on the vampire genre that is suitable for reluctant readers aged 13 and above with a reading age of 9.
These books cleverly mix the contemporary world of YouTube and smartphones with traditional vampires.
After ‘Die Now or Live Forever’ the books can be read in any order.
Books individually £5.99 each Anne Rooney 80 pages, black and white throughout
“Great, snappy reads... I can’t imagine many teens who wouldn’t love a brief trip to the word of Vampire Dawn.”
An Awfully Big Blog Adventure
Book Band: All Vampire Dawn books are Lime Band
Vampire Dawn
Complete Pack
£41.93
(7 books – 1 of every title)
A Vampire Dawn book is this thick!
Books for 13 to Adult Promises
These quick reads are ideal for teens with a reading age of 6-8.
The upbeat stories feature everyday life, friendship and love from a range of perspectives and cultures.
Book Band: Promises books are Green, Orange, Turquoise, Purple and Gold Band
Books individually £5.99 each 64 pages, black and white throughout, some are illustrated
Promises Complete Pack £59.90 (10 books – 1 of every title)
A Promises book is this thick!
The Microwave Shakespeare
Designed for students aged 12 and above with a reading age of 8-9, these books are great for getting all students comfortable with a play before they study the original – and for reluctant readers who would find the original version too daunting. Retold as pacey narratives in the present tense, the books use lots of dialogue to recreate the experience of actually watching the play.
Faithful to the original plot
Stories presented in the period of the play but with modern, colloquial language
Memorable quotations from the original worked into the text and marked in italics (to help exam crammers!)
Visual information to help readers get to grips with the plot and key characters
The Microwave Shakespeare Complete Pack
£62.91 (9 books – 1 of every title)
Books individually £6.99 each Stephen Rickard, Jill Atkins, Barbara Catchpole 60 pages, illustrated in black and white
“A brilliant introduction to the play... This is a book that captures the excitement, intrigue and sheer visceral power of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Spread the word.”
Teach Secondary (on Macbeth)
Book Band:
All The Microwave Shakespeare books are Brown Band
A Microwave Shakespeare book is this thick!
Ransom Online
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Powerful tools
As well as accessing the books, you can create individual logins for your students, allocate titles to their accounts, and receive reports on their reading progress.
Affordable prices
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Our platform prioritises safety and privacy, ensuring a secure digital environment for all users.
User-friendly design
Whether you’re a teacher or a student, on a computer or a tablet, Ransom Online is smooth to set up and simple to use.
Free bonuses
On top of the books you’ve subscribed to, we’ll stock your platform with free additional content, like workbooks to support the titles, CPD materials, etc.
Getting better and better
Our plans for the future include everything from audio features to interactive quizzes at the end of a book. In other words, Ransom Online is only going to get better and better.
KS2 Reluctant and Struggling
Readers Digital Library
Subscription
(All the books from our ‘Reluctant and Struggling Readers’ range that are suitable for readers aged 7-11.)
One Year
Two Years
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£200
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KS3/4 Reluctant and Struggling
Readers Digital Library
Subscription
(All the books from our ‘Reluctant and Struggling Readers’ range that are suitable for readers aged 11-16.)
One Year
Two Years
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Are there other subscriptions available?
Yes! A one-stop shop for all your literacy needs, the following subscriptions are also available for Ransom Online (all from our ‘Learning to Read’ range).
Unlocking Letters and Sounds Subscription A DfE-validated phonics teaching programme
Reading Stars Phonics Subscription A collection of 250 fully decodable books to support formal phonics teaching
Reading Stars Achieve Phonics
Subscription A collection of 98 fully decodable books to support formal phonics teaching with older students
After Phonics Subscription Book Band books (Orange to Lime) to bridge the gap between the end of phonics and children becoming ‘free readers’
Graded Reading Subscription A collection of Book Band books (Pink to Lime)
For more information, head to our website or get in touch.
How to Order:
Head to our website: www.ransom.co.uk
Drop us an email: orders@ransom.co.uk
Give us a ring: +44 (0) 1730 829 091
Write to us: Ransom Publishing, Unit 7, Brocklands Farm, West Meon, GU32 1JN, UK www.ransom.co.uk
Ransom Publishing, Unit 7, Brocklands Farm, West Meon, GU32 1JN, UK
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