A2 English Stories
Move into longer English reading practice with more detail, dialogue, and familiar real-life situations.
The Name Inside the Ring
A young woman discovers a mysterious secret while waiting for her mother's surgery to finish.
The Last Window Tapped by the Knocker-up
A man who wakes up workers in 1890s London prepares to retire as new technology replaces his job.
The Photograph in the Charity Shop Coat
A young woman buys a warm coat from a charity shop and discovers an old photograph hidden in the pocket, beginning a quiet search to return the precious memory to its owner.
The Library Book Returned After Forty Years
A librarian receives an unexpectedly late library book and discovers the touching reason behind its delay.
The Understudy Who Refused to Go On Stage
Clara, a nervous understudy, must overcome her stage fright when the lead singer falls ill on the season's biggest night.
The Best Man's Toast That Stopped in the Middle
A best man at a wedding pauses during his speech as he remembers his old feelings for the bride.
The Runner Who Stopped at the Finish Line
An inspiring true story about a race where sportsmanship and respect became more important than winning.
The Canal Boat That Never Reached Birmingham
A man learns the secrets of the canal and his father's past while delivering an old boat.
The Carriage Where No One Speaks on the Last Train North
A woman from Lisbon experiences the unique culture of silence on a late-night Finnish train.
The Fishmonger Who Refused the Catch of the Day
An honest fishmonger chooses integrity and kindness over a large profit at the harbor market.
The Signature Scratched into the Tower Cell Wall
Learn about the mysterious carvings left by prisoners in the Tower of London hundreds of years ago.
The White Hare That Sits at the Crossroads on Midsummer Night
A young girl named Mira visits a magical white hare on Midsummer Night to find answers about her sick brother.
The Letter Forwarded to the Wrong Address for Seven Years
A misplaced letter from a best friend causes seven years of silence until a neighbor discovers it in a drawer.
The Name Whispered Back from the Malham Tarn on Still Nights
A young girl named Nora tests a local legend about a lake that repeats your name.
The Bake-Off That Split the Village in Two
A village competition for the best honey and lavender cake leads to a surprising connection between a long-time winner and a new arrival.
The Cheese That Rolled the Wrong Way Down Cooper's Hill
A young woman competes in an unusual cheese-rolling race, but her rival cheats to win.
The Chair That Moved Three Inches Every Morning
A hotel employee investigates a mysterious chair that moves on its own every night.
The Telegram That Arrived One Day Too Late
A grieving mother in 1918 receives a bittersweet letter from her son just after learning of his death in the war.
The Neighbour Who Hid the Carnival Costume for Forty Years
An elderly woman in Venice rediscovers a piece of her past when her neighbour needs help finding a Carnival costume.
The Seat Saved at the Wedding That Nobody Claimed
A father saves a special seat at his daughter's wedding to honor a memory that is still very much alive.
The Brass Band That Played On When the Parade Turned Back
A small brass band decides to play their music despite the rain and the cancellation of the town parade.
The Soldier Whose Name Was Spelled Wrong on the Memorial
A woman named Clara Marsh fights to correct a single letter in her brother's name on a war memorial.
The Penalty No One Wanted to Take
A young football player overcomes her fear and the pressure of a championship match to take a crucial penalty kick.
The Greengrocer Who Refused to Stock the New Potato
A proud greengrocer with a strict rule about potatoes learns a lesson in flexibility and kindness.
The Name Crossed Out in the Parish Register
A woman discovers a hidden family secret while searching for her grandfather's birth record in an old Irish church.
The Bride Who Walked the Wrong Road Home
A young bride learns that some old village legends are more than just stories when she takes a wrong turn in the forest.
The Garden Gate Left Open the Morning She Disappeared
A young boy notices a small change in his neighbor's routine and decides to investigate if something is wrong.