The nights are shorter, the weather is colder, so why don't you get a good book to keep you cosy!
Winter is the perfect time to dive into a book, and we don't just have one recommendation - we have five!
BBC Bitesize speaks to author and Radio One presenter Katie Thistleton about the books she recommends to read during this winter break.
Hello, I'm Katie Thistleton, I'm a BBC radio one DJ and I love books. And I've got five recommendations for you to get you through winter, because what a great time to just cosy up with a good book.
First recommendation is Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell. This is a really great book, all about a girl who survives a boat capsizing. She's found in a cello case floating along the river, and she believes that her mom is still alive, so she sets out to go to Paris to find her Mum. And it's one of those books that's got an element of fantasy to it, but it feels like it's set in the real world. It feels like, you know, this, this could be happening. This is happening, and it's really captivating.
My next book recommendation is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, for a long time I only knew the Muppets version of this, and that is a brilliant film by the way, a Muppets Christmas Carol. Well, I realized when I read the book, I know this story so well, you might have even done it as a school play. It's everywhere, so it's really great to read the original and perfect for this time of year.
My third book recommendation is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling. I love all the Harry Potter books, but this one for me is the most fun because things start to get a little bit more spicy, a little bit more dramatic in terms of what happens in the book. And also it's when everyone's kind of growing up a little bit. All the main characters are going to the Yule ball. So this is the one that I always like to return to. So I think it's the most exciting one and it's when things really changed in the Harry Potter franchise.
My next recommendation is The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. I really like this one a little bit like rooftop, as it's got that perfect mix of fantasy and real life, and it's all about a girl whose friend goes missing on the island they live on. Goes into these forbidden territories, and she has all these maps to try and find him that she got from her dad. It's just a really great book. I won't tell you any more, but I think it will be really grip you.
My final book recommendation is Animal Farm by George Orwell. Now George Orwell books can be a little bit heavy, a little bit more difficult to read. I still recommend them because they're great, but this one is much easier to read. In fact, it's actually really small. It's all about these animals on a farm who start to rebel against their owner. But actually it's a broader message all about society. You'd probably really impress the grown ups in your life if you told them that you'd read this one. The teachers would probably be really impressed. When you get to the end of it, you feel quite satisfied to think that you finished it and that you understood the message. It might just make you feel a little bit sad when you're eating your pigs in blankets, though. So maybe, maybe after Christmas for this one.
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
Image source, Terry FanWhat is the plot?
This is a captivating tale that follows the journey of a young girl called Sophie who is found floating in a cello case after a shipwreck. Years later she escapes to Paris in search of the truth. By navigating the rooftops of Paris and forming an unlikely alliances, Sophie and her friends work together to uncover the secrets of Sophie's past.
What does Katie say?
Katie describes it as a book "that's got an element of fantasy to it, but it feels like it's set in the real world."
The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Image source, Illustrated by Helen Crawford-WhiteWhat is the plot?
Isabella dreams of faraway lands that her map-making father once drew. When her friend suddenly disappears, she volunteers to lead the search. On this journey she discovers a world with monsters, dry rivers and a fire demon waking up from its slumber.
What does Katie say?
"It's got that perfect mix of fantasy and real-life" and "it's just a really great book- that will really grip you."
Animal Farm by George Orwell
What is the plot?
This is a story about a group of animals who take control of the farm they live on. The animals lead a rebellion which, for a while, provides them with a good life. But some animals are not happy with the status quo.
What does Katie say?
This is a bit shorter than most George Orwell books and it's really interesting as the story has "a broader message all about society." "You'll probably really impress the grown-ups in your life if you told them if you read this one."
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
What is the plot?
A Christmas Carol is about Ebenezer Scrooge, an old man, who is well-known for being miserable. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by a series of ghosts. They show Scrooge how his mean behaviour has impacted those around him.
What does Katie say?
This story is "perfect for this time of year." You may be familiar with the story but, "it's really great to read the original."
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
Image source, Giles GreenfieldWhat is the plot?
This is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series. The Triwizard Tournament is being held at Hogwarts. To everyone's surprise Harry is picked to compete in the tournament. Harry is forced to play in the tournament and must undergo death-defying tasks in the hope to succeed or even just to survive.
What does Katie say?
"I love all the Harry Potter books, but this one for me is the most fun because things get a little bit more spicy, little bit more dramatic in terms of what happens in the book."
This article was published in December 2025
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