Wuthering Heights: A Retelling is a 104-page paperback that retells Emily Brontë's classic novel for readers with a reading age of nine, while keeping an interest age of eleven and above. It is written by Tanya Landman, winner of the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal for her novel Buffalo Soldier, and is published by HarperCollins as part of the Classic Retellings series.

The book follows the arrival of Heathcliff, an unkempt orphan, at the Heights, and the turbulent, lifelong bond that forms between him and Cathy. For a dyslexic reader, the same demanding vocabulary and long sentences that make the original 1847 text hard going can put the whole story out of reach. This retelling keeps the plot, characters and emotional weight of the original while writing at a reading age of nine, so the story stays within reach.

For schools

• At 104 pages, it is short enough to complete within a term as a whole-class or small-group reading text for pupils working below their chronological reading age.
• A reading age of nine with an interest age of eleven and above makes it suitable for secondary-age pupils, including those with an EHCP or on a SEND register, who need age-appropriate content without an age-appropriate reading demand.
• Gives dyslexic pupils access to a canonical text often set at GCSE or KS3, supporting inclusion within whole-class literature study.
• Priced for bulk purchase across a class or reading group.

For parents and home use

• Lets a dyslexic child or reluctant reader enjoy a well-known classic without the frustration of the original Brontë text.
• Short chapters and a lower reading age make it realistic for a child to finish independently, which can build reading confidence at home.
• A recognisable title means a child can take part in conversations about the story with classmates or siblings reading the original.

For dyslexic readers specifically, the barrier to a book like Wuthering Heights is rarely the story itself but the density of the original text. Tanya Landman's retelling separates the two, offering the same narrative at a reading age of nine so that decoding difficulty does not stand between a dyslexic reader and the classic story.

Books written at a lower reading age but a higher interest age, sometimes described as high-interest, low reading age or "hi-lo" titles, are widely used in UK schools and at home to support pupils whose reading level sits behind their chronological age or interest level.

Wuthering Heights: A Retelling is available now in paperback from The Dyslexia Shop, for use in the classroom or at home.

• Full retelling of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, keeping the original plot and characters, written at a reading age of nine years.
• Interest age of eleven years and above, so the content suits secondary-age and older readers even at a lower reading level.
• Written by Tanya Landman, winner of the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal for her novel Buffalo Soldier.
• Paperback format, 104 pages.
• Dimensions: 198 x 130 x 7mm. Weight: 180g.
• Cover design by Helen Crawford-White.
• Published by HarperCollins Publishers in the Classic Retellings series, 6 August 2020.
• ISBN-13: 9781781129371.
• Includes: 1 x paperback book.

• A reading age of nine, an interest age of eleven and above. Dyslexic and reluctant readers get the full story without the demands of the original Victorian text.
• Written by an award-winning author. Tanya Landman, winner of the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal, retells Cathy and Heathcliff's story in clear, accessible language.
• Short enough to finish. At 104 pages, it suits a school term's reading group or a child reading independently at home.
• Supplied by a UK dyslexia specialist. The Dyslexia Shop is a UK retailer focused on resources for dyslexic and neurodivergent learners.

Delivery and Returns

Standard UK delivery applies. See our Delivery and Returns page for full details.

• What is Wuthering Heights: A Retelling by Tanya Landman?
  It is a 104-page paperback retelling of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, written for readers with a reading age of nine. It keeps the original story of Cathy and Heathcliff but uses more accessible language, and is published by HarperCollins in the Classic Retellings series.
• Is this book suitable for dyslexic readers?
  Yes, it is written at a reading age of nine, which is lower than its interest age of eleven and above. This gap is designed to help dyslexic readers and other struggling readers follow a classic story without being held back by the original text's demanding vocabulary and long sentences.
• What reading age is Wuthering Heights: A Retelling written for?
  It has a reading age of nine years and an interest age of eleven years and above. This combination is intended for readers who are older than nine but whose reading level is behind their age or interest in the story.
• Can this book be used in the classroom for reluctant or struggling readers?
  Yes, its 104-page length and reading age of nine make it practical as a whole-class or small-group text for secondary pupils reading below their chronological age, including pupils with an EHCP or on a SEND register.
• Is this a good choice for a child who struggles with the original Wuthering Heights at home?
  Yes, it lets a child follow the full story of Cathy and Heathcliff at a reading age of nine rather than the demanding language of Emily Brontë's 1847 original, which can help build reading confidence and independent reading at home.
• How long is Wuthering Heights: A Retelling?
  It is 104 pages long in paperback format, with dimensions of 198 x 130 x 7mm and a weight of 180g.
• Who wrote Wuthering Heights: A Retelling?
  It was written by Tanya Landman, who won the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal for her novel Buffalo Soldier. It was published by HarperCollins on 6 August 2020 as part of the Classic Retellings series.
• Does this retelling follow the same story as Emily Brontë's original novel?
  Yes, it retells the same plot and characters as Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, including Heathcliff's arrival at the Heights and his lifelong bond with Cathy, but in language written at a reading age of nine.