Booklists

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged. Bartholomew Kettle and his sister live by these words. They are Peculiars, half-human, half-faery, and hated by both. But, one day, when a mysterious lady magically whisks away a little boy, Bartholomew forgets the rules. And gets himself noticed.

In this sequel to 'The Peculiar', twelve year old Pikey Thomas is missing an eye, a family and friends of any sort. He doesn't seem to have a great deal going for him and he feels it. But, Pikey sees things and people worth knowing that others don't. When he finds out that faeries are real and the past is both a guide and a trap, Pikey begins an adventure that will lead him to know himself and face his fears.

As a Victorian clergyman's daughter, Edith Worms has seen everything--until a mythical salamander tumbles out of the fireplace into her lap. When a letter arrives from estranged relatives, Edith is swept away to a crumbling gothic Abbey in the wilds of Yorkshire. Wormwood Abbey isn't just full of curious beasts and ancient family secrets: there's also a tall, dark, and entirely too handsome neighbour who is strangely reluctant for her to leave. An unexpected bond with her prickly cousin Gwendolyn gives Edith a reason to stay in this strange world--especially when it turns out that Edith herself may have a role in guarding her family's legacy. But not all of the mysteries of Ormdale are small enough to fit in her lap ... and some of them have teeth.

Sixth grader Lucy is brand-new to middle school, and when her older sister GiGi - the undisputed queen bee of eighth grade - humiliates her in the cafeteria, Lucy snaps and challenges her to a fencing duel.

The horror of Tiannaman Square confronts Leah when she is searching for her ancient links in China.

The ferocious Crocodile warriors have already killed Bent Beak's pa, and now they seem determined to take out his whole tribe. The only way to survive is to flee the island. As the Yam tribe brave the perils of the sea, will they survive the voyage into the unknown, and what awaits them just over the horizon. An enthralling story about the plight of the very first boat people, of their desperation, bravery and hope.

Australia's great heroes at their most decisive moments.

Steve is a brilliant basketball player with a conflict to solve involving family and his achievements.

In a futuristic Tasmania, where our sun is dying, an alien appears who may be able to help.

A collection of short stories about friendship.

A young boy is rescued from a disaster at sea and joins his father searching for treasure near an Indonesian island. His story is interwoven with that of Diego who is travelling on a 16th century Portuguese treasure ship.

A story of survival about two children who discover a rusty freighter on their beach after a cyclone. It appears to be calling them but it could just be a trap.

If you love facts, information, records and trivia, this book will tell you everything you ever wanted to know, with its lists of the weirdest beetles, the fastest jet aircraft, the scariest sharks, the least intelligent dinosaurs and much more.

Mini's big sister is getting married. Their mom passed away seven years ago and between Dad's new start-up and Vinnie's medical residency, there's no one but Mini to plan the wedding. Dad raised her to know more about computers, calculus and cars than Desi weddings but from the moment Mini held the jewelry Mom left them, she wanted her sister to have the wedding Mom would've planned. Now Mini has only two months to get it done and she's not going to let anything distract her, not even the persistent, mysterious and smoking-hot Vir Mirchandani. Flower garlands, decorations, music, even a white wedding horse - everything is in place. That is, until a monster cyclone heads for Boston that could ruin everything. Will Mini come through as sister of the bride and save the day?

A classic story of three young sailors, sole survivors of a wreck, who discover the enchanting beauties of the South Pacific. They learn how to live on their tropical paradise but then they are swept into adventures with bloodthirsty pirates.

Nash finds himself pulled between his two parents after their divorce. This is not uncommon, however his mum is the local police officer and his dad is a retired boxer and former prisoner who finds himself needing to come up with a large amount of money very quickly. Nash finds his love and loyalty to his father tested as he is involved in his father's past mistakes and present schemes. LISTEN ON BOOK BITES! You can listen to Tristan Bancks read the first chapter of this book on the PRC's Book bites podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or The Arts Unit website! Copy and paste this URL into your browser to start listening! https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/listen-the-arts-unit/literature-and-language-arts/book-bites/5-6-book-list#cop-and-robber-tristan-bancks

Mac has become a coolhunter for a popular webspace and won an all-expenses-paid trip to New York. His job is to find the Next Big Thing or be sent home. Mac gets taken to The Hive, where innovative kids are creating things way more cutting edge than anything you can buy. And, they're about to test an invention that could change the world. Mac has found the coolest thing in NYC but he's not allowed to tell a soul.

Mac's just crashed the latest prototype of his flying bike in front of the whole school. So, when the creators of Coolhunters tell him he's an Innovator, Mac thinks they're crazy. He lives in an old bus and doesn't have a TV, let alone a mobile. But, Tony and Speed suggest he compete to become the Australian coolhunter. But, hunting cool isn't easy and Mac's opponent will do just about anything to get the gig.

Angela is the angelic twin and Diabola is the opposite, a pair of twins who can drive their normal parents, the Cuthbertson-Joneses, to distraction. Angela is perfect but, that Diabola, she could just be wicked or she may be a genius.

Oland is a lowly servant who lives in fear for life, until one day he finds a letter from a long-dead king, warning him to run for his life and accept a quest to restore a shattered kingdom.

Franklin D Roosevelt was the only four-term President in American history and the man who fearlessly guided the United States through both the Great Depression and the Second World War. Although partially paralysed by polio, he persevered and became a powerful leader during a difficult period in USA's history.

Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law, risking exile, to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world. Alia just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn't know she is being hunted. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer - a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery. Together, Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies, mortal and divine. determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. If they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

Deserted by her father and kept in the dark about her brother's accident, high schooler Ashley Davies has her own secrets. When she enters a forbidden rock climbing contest to teach her bully a lesson, she ends up uncovering old wounds about her family's connection to another's heartache. Climb is a coming of age story of resilience, grit, and self-discovery.

In the first half of the nineteenth century, seventy-three thousand convicts were transported to the British penal colony of Van Diemen's Land. This is an enthralling journey through the personal histories and daily lives of the men, women and children who played a vital role in the building of the settlements, as well as the running of the newly established colony.

Bailey Morgan is a high school student by day, ancient mystical being by night. As the third Fate, Bailey literally controls the fate of the world but, as plain old Bailey, her life is falling apart. Then, she meets the rest of the Sidhe, an ancient race defined by their power, beauty and a sinister habit of getting what they want at any cost. Before long, Bailey is being drawn into a complicated, otherworldly web.

Bailey Morgan and her friends, Delia, Annabelle and Zo, apply strange, temporary tattoos picked up from a small booth at the mall. The tattoos will, supposedly, last for three days and the girls are sure they will absolutely kill at the school dance. Unfortunately, killing is just what someone has in mind. Along with the tattoo, each girl receives a gift, a supernatural power to help in the fight for their lives.

When Ned and his identical twin tumble from their raft into a raging river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Across the forest that borders Ned's village, Aine, the daughter of the Bandit King, is haunted by her mother's last words: "The wrong boy will save your life and you will save his." When the Bandit King comes to steal the magic Ned's mother, a witch, is meant to protect, Aine and Ned meet. Can they trust each other long enough to cross a dangerous enchanted forest and stop the war about to boil over between their two kingdoms?

Cymbeline Igloo doesn't know how to swim. He has NEVER been swimming. Ever. His mother won't let him near the water and he doesn't know why. After he tries (and fails) to swim on his own, he realises there is a bigger mystery to be solved. Cymbeline and his friends work together to find out why his mum has never taken him near the water.

In a fast-paced adventure on the high seas and on a faraway island, an orphan boy named Peter and his mysterious new friend, Molly, overcome bands of pirates and thieves in their quest to keep a secret safe and save the world from evil.

In 1995, Bill Gates launched Microsoft Windows, a computer program now used by people at work and at play all around the world. As head of Microsoft, he is the richest man in the world and aims to be the largest benefactor in history.

This is a tennis story. It is a family story. It is a teamwork story. It is the story of how Ash Barty got to be who she is today. It is her story about the power and joy of doing that thing you love and seeing where it can take you. This book reflects on her whole tennis journey, from the first time she picked up a racquet to packing her bag after winning the Australian Open in 2022. It explains how she worked through self-doubt, homesickness and a break from the sport to realise her tennis dreams, winning Wimbledon and ranking number 1 in the world. Ash is hoping her story will inspire you to follow your dreams.

True stories about mysteries and disasters at sea.

When Ben's Dad leaves home, Ben and his Mum move to the country to find a better life. Their neighbour, Luke, bullies Ben remorselessly about his city ways and his pet crow, Joe. When Luke threatens to hurt Joe, the crows take their own revenge.

Bee isn't about to change just because her dad is going to remarry. However, when Jazz starts living with dad earlier than expected, Bee knows things will change whether she likes it or not. An unlikely source helps her come to terms with the situation.

Lisette's gap year after high school begins with a three month trip to Paris. Lisette has never known her father who left before she was born, and knows how much her mother has done for her, so this trip is fulfilling one of her mother's dreams. But is it hers? Should she study art history as her mother wants, when vintage clothing is really her passion? Plus there is the hope that the city of love will weave its magic. When it does there are many hard decisions to make.

Millie's artist mum needs a change but Millie isn't so keen. When they move, Millie must start Year 7 in a new school. Fitting in and making friends is hard but Millie is a very special girl and mum's love interest, the new boyfriend, helps.

Packed with entertaining illustrations alongside practical information, the Social Media Survival Guide answers questions about all aspects of social media. Managing life, relationships and mental health on any social media platform is important. Empower yourself to stay safe online with this fun, comprehensive guide.

Maggie Butt's world is under siege. Not only is a stranger taking over her mother's life but her own as well, and Maggie is not going to let that happen. But, then, there's Sister Evangelina, the one-eyed, snaggle-toothed cat, senior subject choices, the dream date and Cyber Boy, the geek in the library, to contend with as well.

Ditty was born to dance but she was also born Jewish. When her strictly religious parents won't let her take ballet lessons, Ditty starts to dance in secret. Keeping her two worlds apart will come at a huge personal cost.

Sixteen-year-old Jamie lives with his mum and his younger brother Oscar, who has Down syndrome. Though Jamie is still grieving the loss of his dad, life starts to look up when he meets Zara, the new girl at school. When their mum goes away for the weekend, Jamie volunteers to look after Oscar. But when the weekend is over and their mother doesn't return, Jamie faces the toughest challenge of his life.

For Miri and her family, life in Warsaw is full of simple joys. The smell of freshly baked challah, the pink flowers that bloom in their courtyard and Fridays, when everyone comes together to celebrate Shabbat. But, the Nazis have a hold on Europe and have stepped up their discrimination and attacks on Jews. Miri's world closes in on her as she and her family are forced into the ghetto, where they must try to survive, against impossible odds. Based on true events.

Carrie is evacuated to a Welsh mining town during the bombing raids on British cities in World War II.

When Briseis's aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents decide to leave Brooklyn behind for the summer. Hopefully there, surrounded by plants and flowers, Bri will finally learn to control her gift. But their new home is sinister in ways they could never have imagined - it comes with a specific set of instructions, an old-school apothecary, and a walled garden filled with the deadliest botanicals in the world that can only be entered by those who share Bri's unique family lineage.

It's 200 years since Cinderella found her prince, but the fairytale is over. Sophia knows the story though, off by heart. Because every girl has to recite it daily, from when she's tiny until the night she's sent to the royal ball for choosing. And every girl knows that she has only one chance. For the lives of those not chosen by a man at the ball are forfeit. But Sophia doesn't want to be chosen - she's in love with her best friend, Erin, and hates the idea of being traded like cattle. And when Sophia's night at the ball goes horribly wrong, she must run for her life. Alone and terrified, she finds herself hiding in Cinderella's tomb. And there she meets someone who will show her that she has the power to remake her world ...

Lyla has just started her second year of high school when a magnitude 6.3 earthquake shakes Christchurch to pieces. Devastation is everywhere. While her police officer mother and trauma nurse father respond to the disaster, Lyla puts on a brave face, opening their home to neighbours and leading the community clean-up. But soon she discovers that it's not only familiar buildings and landscapes that have vanished - it's friends and acquaintances too. As the earth keeps shaking day after day, can Lyla find a way to cope with her new reality?

When Jess goes to stay with her unknown grandmother, she learns of her family's secrets that are about to be repeated with devastating results.

In 1937, a Stinson aircraft crashed, leaving two survivors to be rescued.

One December night, fourteen year old Alex goes to bed. He wakes up to find himself in the wrong bedroom, in an unfamiliar house, in a different part of the country and it's the middle of June. Six months have disappeared overnight. At breakfast, he doesn't know the family and, in the mirror, another face stares back at him. A boy named Flip. Unless Alex finds out what's happened and how to get back to his own life, he may be trapped forever inside another person's body.

Thunderhead is awkward, obsessed with music, and prone to bad luck. Their favourite things are hanging with their best (only) friend, Moonflower, and listening to records. When Moonflower moves schools, Thunderhead must navigate the challenges of high school alone. This task is made all the more challenging because she also has a big secret. Thunderhead uses playlists and online diary entries to try to make sense of her changing world, and to find the courage to embrace her future.

Layla is a young singer who is just hitting the big time. But, with all of the excitement of her growing fame comes the eerie presence of an unknown heckler who begins to follow all her performances. She doesn't know who he is or why he's doing it. And, she just wants it to stop.

The poignant story of a nine year old Aboriginal boy who was taught a traditional way of life until he was taken from his family, in accordance with the official government policy of the time.

Julia, a gifted student, musically and academically, is accelerated to high school. She feels socially isolated and desperately wants to fit in with the other students. Julia's life changes in many ways when the school band travels to Hobart.

Xanthe and Julia are best friends. They are both very talented. Xanthe dreams of winning a medal at the National Diving Championships and Julia is a talented musician. Both girls have to deal with some serious challenges to realise their dreams.

This book contains amazing tips, tricks, and strategies to gently encourage and explain how to rise above and find hope and support when things are tough. Feel lighter and optimistic about the future, and more confident, empowered, and inspired to live a happy and healthy life.

Lewis Barnavelt discovers there is a wizard in his family when he comes to live with his Uncle Jonathan. Experimenting with Uncle Jonathan's spells Lewis uncovers the mystery behind the ticking that can be heard throughout the house, sometimes loud sometimes quiet, sometimes slow, sometimes fast. It's an evil clock and it could destroy humankind. It is up to the Barnavelts to find where the clock is hidden in the walls - and stop it. Tick tock, a deadly clock... a terrifying race against time...

After her best friend, Franny, dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy must have been a rare jellyfish sting. Franny was a strong swimmer and there must be a reason. Retreating into a silent world of grief and imagination, Suzy crafts a plan to prove her theory, even if it means traveling the globe alone. Suzy's achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe, and the potential for love and hope right next door.

After a catastrophic attempt to ask out his crush, Nelson is desperate for any chance to escape the daily humiliations of his small-town high school. And with his parents taking over a nearby ski lodge, that chance seems to have arrived. At the snow, Nelson discovers a whole new freedom in a world where nobody knows he's a loser. Now he can be whoever he wants to be... But reinvention is complicated, especially when a few white lies land Nelson in the middle of an unexpected love triangle and on a path towards certain embarrassment.

Billy Shanghai Hamilton has been snatched by pirates in the Torres Strait and forced to work on a pearling boat. Greed for pearls drives men mad and the seas are full of danger. Soon Billy is fighting for survival in a dangerous world of assassins, treasure hunters, deep-sea diving, underworld crime and mutiny.

Jack McLaren, a fourteen year old, is offered a mechanics apprenticeship in Longreach, Queensland. He gets to travel north with two World War 1 pilots in a model T Ford, finding the best route for an air race. The beginning of QANTAS.

First in the Outcast Trilogy, this story introduces the chip-enhanced city dwellers of the future. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Three loyal teenagers witness a murder and theft of a priceless dinosaur fossil. They are not supposed to be in the National Park at night and are in great danger. An international crime gang is not going to let them get in its way.

Christopher Columbus made the voyage that, for better and worse, changed history. Born in the bustling port city of Genoa, Italy, Columbus fell in love with the sea and spent his youth learning all he could about steering and navigating a ship. Dreaming of wealth and fame, he believed he could find a new route to the Indies by sailing westward.

Helen Keller lived in darkness and silence but she dazzled the world with her accomplishments. Find out about the illness that destroyed her sight and hearing, her explosive first meeting with her teacher, her struggle to become the first blind/deaf student ever awarded a degree from Radcliffe College and her life as a writer, lecturer and world traveller.

There was no going back; there was no choice, anymore. I'd chosen out and this was it: hot-cold, dry-wet, bright-dark and lonely. Hayley has gone rogue. She's left everything she's ever known - her friends, her bees, her whole world - all because her curiosity was too big to fit within the walls of the underwater home she was forced to flee. But what is this new world she's come to? Has Hayley finally found where she can belong? Or will she have to keep running?

Zac is a country boy who's in hospital with leukaemia. In the room next door is an angry teenager who wants to seize a lot of emotional space. In the real world, Zac wouldn't, couldn't, be friends with her. But, in hospital, different rules apply and courage is needed. It begins with a knock on the wall.

Hayley tends to her bees and follows the rules in the only world she has ever known. Until she witnesses the impossible: a drip from the ceiling. A drip? It doesn't make sense. Yet she hears it, catches it. Tastes it. Curiosity is a hook. What starts as a drip leads to a lie, a death, a boy, a beast, and too many awful questions.

Mayim Bialik talks about what it means to grow up - puberty, friends, education, stress - no topic is off limits. In her friendly voice, she talks about what her tween and teen years were like and how to handle your own struggles through these changes.

An exciting and adventurous way to find out how the body works by following two tiny explorers through arteries, veins, bones and organs.

Titus Cotta Maximus, a young boy, travels through the city of ancient Rome. Stephen Biesty's wonderfully detailed cutaway drawings convey daily life in these times with a touch of humour.

Sylvie's beloved dog, Mr Jackson, has lost his bark. The birds have stopped singing. In the growing silence, her dad, her dear music-making dad, has disappeared. Sylvie and her best friend, George, are drawn into the nightmare world of the songman. Only they can save the earth from its terrible, voiceless fate.

Everything changed after Jane went for a swim at the beach. Now, she is returning to school with her fake arm and the kids whisper about the shark girl and stare. Jane wonders why this happened and what it will mean for her, and her love of art.

Ellie Marsden was born into the legendary Lovinger acting dynasty. Grandmother of the infamous Lottie Lovinger as a child Ellie shared the screen with Lottie playing the child monster in a cult indie horror movie. The experience left her traumatised and estranged from family members. Now 17, Ellie has returned home to Hobart as Lottie is dying and Ellie wants to make peace with her before it's too late. Ellie meets Riya, a young film buff who leads a feminist horror film club. Is this someone she could show her true self to and at last come to terms with her family's legacy. LISTEN ON BOOK BITES! You can listen to Danielle Binks read the first chapter of this book on the PRC's Book bites podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or The Arts Unit website! Copy and paste this URL into your browser to start listening! https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/listen-the-arts-unit/literature-and-language-arts/book-bites/7-9-book-list#the-monster-of-her-age-danielle-binks

Bestsellers. Award-winners. Superstars. This anthology has them all. With brilliantly entertaining short stories from beloved young adult authors Amie Kaufman, Melissa Keil, Will Kostakis, Ellie Marney, Jaclyn Moriarty, Michael Pryor, Alice Pung, Gabrielle Tozer, Lili Wilkinson and Danielle Binks, this all-new collection will show the world exactly how much there is to love about Aussie YA.

Kelda and her family are silvermen, a hidden people who swim like fish and breathe through their skin. When Isla, Kelda's little sister, is born without these abilities, her life and the lives of her whole family is at risk and she must be protected from the suspicions of their community. When betrayal comes, Kelda and Isla escape on a desperate journey across Britian's waterways.

Shakespeare has never been out of fashion. In his lifetime, he was incredibly successful and, after his death, Shakespeare's works were published to the world. This is a new interpretation of Shakespeare's stages, a play on words, which sheds light on the colourful and exuberant world of Shakespeare's life and times. You won't find the sainted genius, solemn with quill and ink-stained hand. High of brow he may have been, but never high-brow. Shakespeare was in the thick of it.

Tamara has been living on a freighter in deep space, and her kidnappers are terrifying Crowpeople - the only aliens humanity has ever encountered. No-one has ever survived a Crowpeople attack, until now - and Tamara must use everything she has just to stay alive. But survival always comes at a price, and there's no handbook for this hostage crisis. As Tamara comes to know the Crowpeople's way of life, and the threats they face from humanity's exploration into deep space, she realises she has an impossible choice to make. Should she stay as the only human among the Crows, knowing she'll never see her family again - or inevitably betray her new community if she wants to escape?

Students at the Magisterium are supposed to be safe. Under the watchful eyes of the mages, they are taught to use magic to bring order to a chaotic world. But, now, the chaos is fighting back. After the shocking death of one of their classmates, Call, Tamara and Aaron must use the powerful magic they've been taught and risk their lives to track down the killer. But, magic is dangerous. In the wrong hands, it could bring terrible destruction and reveal the deadliest secret of all.

Callum Hunt's summer break isn't typical, especially when he discovers that his dad might be trying to destroy both him and his companion, Havoc, a wolf. Call escapes to the magical world of the Magisterium but the Alkahest, a copper gauntlet capable of separating magicians from their magic, has been stolen. In their search, Call and his friends attract some dangerous foes and discover an even more dangerous truth.

Think you know magic? Think again. The final instalment of the epic series from bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. A generation ago, powerful mage Constantine Madden came close to achieving what no magician had ever achieved: the ability to bring back the dead. He didn't succeed . . . but he did find a way to keep himself alive, inside a young child named Callum Hunt. Facing up to what he is, Callum has battled chaos and evil across four years of magical training at the Magisterium, eventually defeating the armies of chaos in an epic battle. It came at a cost. Now, triumphant and heartbroken, Callum Hunt has just about had enough, and is ready to complete his training. But the evil Callum faced has not given up just yet . . .

Most people would do anything to get into the Magisterium and learn about the world of magic. But, not Callum. He's been told his whole life that he should never trust a magician, so he tries his best to do his worst - but fails at failing.

A generation ago, Constantine Madden came close to achieving what no magician had ever achieved: the ability to bring back the dead. He didn't succeeed . . . but he did find a way to keep himself alive, inside a young child named Callum Hunt. Now Call is one of the most feared and reviled students in the history of the Magisterium, thought to be responsible for a devastating death and an ever-present threat of war. As a result, Call has been imprisoned and interrogated. Everyone wants to know what Constantine was up to -- and how he lives on. But Call has no idea. It is only when he's broken out of prison that the full potential of Constantine's plan is suddenly in his hands . . . and he must decide what to do with his power. In this spellbinding fourth book of the Magisterium, bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare take us beyond the realm of the living, and into the dangers of the dead.

At once daring, clever, smart, rich, determined and rash, Cleopatra is one of history's most fascinating figures. Find out about the traditions and infighting of the Ptolemy Dynasty into which she was born, the role of women in ancient Egypt and how she ascended to, and maintained her place, on the throne.

A middle eastern sheik wants to capture wild brumbies roaming the Kimberley Ranges and train them to become race horses. A horse vet and his daughter Rachel go into the outback to round up some horses with the help of local aborigines. Rachel finds her feelings divided between wanting freedom for the horses and serving her father.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

While visiting Stonehenge, a young woman accidentally falls back in time to the year 1347. She becomes actively involved in the life of the people, trying to change things for the better leading to trouble and adventure. Also published as 'The guardian of the gate'.

When Jenny discovers that the virtual database holding vast quantities of gatekeeper knowledge has been corrupted, she sneaks back to medieval England to investigate. War, treachery and intrigue are raging in England and France. During these travels through time, one stranger intrigues her.

Something is terribly wrong. An evil sorcerer has figured out how to time travel and Jenny has to go back to the year 1347 to stop him. A dark wizard who could be far more dangerous than the sorcerer Rudigor. A wizard who is using the power of Jenny's beloved mentor Gwenelda in his evil schemes. Has Gwenelda turned to dark magic? Is she helping this wizard topple the entire Gatekeeper Fraternity? Jenny will stop at nothing to find out the truth, no matter how dangerous it gets. Even if it means risking her very life.

Jenny returns to the Middle Ages to prevent her friends dying in the Black Death, a plague that took the lives of one third of England's population. There is danger and great responsibility in returning. Jenny already abhors the filth, poverty and deprivation. True courage is found facing personal demons but more will be needed to avoid death at the hands of Rudigor, the malevolent wizard.

Set in and around London in the mid 1600s, Widge is ordered by his master to go to the Globe Theatre and copy Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Fourteen-year-old Lucy cannot believe her luck when she starts working in Louisa Lawson's female printery. But it is the 1880s and male printers everywhere think this type of work should be left to the men. When the union too decides to make life difficult for Lucy and her printer friends, Lucy knows she has many battles ahead. Along the way she will realise who her real friends are, and find first love.

In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions. But becoming the Queen Crowned isn't solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it's not just a game of win or lose - it's life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

Joshua and his cousin, Zoe, see two men fighting and hear a gunshot. The police believe the murder is linked to armed robberies in the area. The cousins decision to investigate places them in danger.

A humorous, futuristic tale of irrepressible Paddy, a Year 8 student. Due to a series of mishaps, Paddy is seen as a troublemaker and his teacher has it in for him. His mission in 3005 AD is to get through life without losing the plot or anything else.

Her mother's in jail. Her best friend betrayed her. Who can Alison trust? Hidden pasts, Unexpected betrayals, twisted friendships, sweet revenge, Let the drama begin...

The battle for the crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail? With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favour without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before- ones that put those around her in danger that she can't seem to prevent.

Margaret Simon, almost twelve, likes long hair, tuna fish, the smell of rain, and things that are pink. She's just moved from New York City to Farbook, New Jersey, and is anxious to fit in with her new friends -- Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. When they form a secret club to talk about private subjects like boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret is happy to belong. But none of them can believe Margaret doesn't have religion, and that she isn't going to the Y or the Jewish Community Center. What they don't know is Margaret has her own very special relationship with God. She can talk to God about everything -- family, friends, even Moose Freed, her secret crush. Margaret is funny and real, and her thoughts and feelings are oh-so-relatable -- you'll feel like she's talking right to you, sharing her secrets with a friend.

Life is changing for Jamie. She used to worry about football and whether her first kiss would be with a boy or a girl. But when the new girl, Stella, arrives at school Jamie starts questioning more than just her love life. Suddenly, history class feels wrong. Why aren't they learning the full truth and why are First Nations voices missing from the curriculum? When Jamie finds the courage to challenge their teacher she is surprised when Stella stands with her. Together, they walk out in protest, sparking something bigger than either of them imagined. A story of friendship, love, football and finding your voice.

Eric Bogle's famous but depressing anti-war song about the Battle of Gallipoli was written in 1971, inspired by the Vietnam War and the lukewarm response of the Australian public to the returning soldiers. It explores the futility of war with haunting power. The accompanying illustrations are graphic and certainly do not glorify war. A timely story for every generation.

Jenna is excited to be chosen to act in a movie about a princess, amazed when her mother gives her permission to fly off for the filming and confused when she realises she is the spitting image of the missing Princess of Scandia.

A beautifully illustrated book that tells the story of how fashion has changed and evolved over thousands of years. From animal skins worn by the very first people, to flapper dresses, flares and other modern fashions in the 20th century.

Saffie Grundig decides to find out about her older sister, Ruby, and the secrets she is keeping. What's really going on at the sleazy Comedy House where Ruby has a cleaning job. Saffie, assisted by retired TV actor, Sarge, begins her investigations.

Imagine finding yourself in the body of a baby, with all the disadvantages that would bring.

Fourteen year old Kat Jones' life has been on hold since the death of her mother. When Kat is woken by an intruder looming over her bed, she is saved by her neighbour, Edwina, whom she believes betrayed her dying mother. And Kat certainly doesn't want Hercules, the world's ugliest guard dog, in her life. But, to stop the prowler, Kat will need to accept Edwina's help, develop friendships and learn to trust again.

Where the mist swallows mountains and winds whisper through ancient trees, a mother and her pup run wild and free. They hunt, but they are also hunted. Carted away. Sold for bounty. And then, one careless night...The last thylacine is gone. The beautiful but heartbreaking story of Australia's last thylacine (Tasmanian tiger), which died in captivity.

Through her discovery of radium, Marie Curie changed not only the course of science but the course of the world. She was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize and a PhD in physics. Find out about the importance of Marie's work and the tragic consequences of the dangerous radioactive materials she was researching.

The Midnight Sun has been waiting five hundred years for the homunculus, a man-made man, to rise, and now the evil Ms Mauvais and Dr L are going to throw Cass and Max-Ernest to the sharks unless they tell them where he is.

Two eccentric classmates deduce a range of cryptic clues from a magician's notebook which allow them to solve a kidnapping and set to rest a story of displacement.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

In this tooth-rotting adventure, Cass's mum has been kidnapped by the evil dessert chef and chocolatier, Senor Hugo. The ransom...the legendary tuning fork. Can Cass and Max-Ernest find the magical instrument before it's too late. Will they discover the evil secret ingredient to Senor Hugo's chocolate success. If you're tempted, take a taste, but just remember...this book is not good for you.

Cass may be in grave danger. She's eaten the dreaded time travel chocolate. I won't even begin to tell you what trouble this delicacy has caused in the past. If only Cass could leave the past behind but it appears she is literally stuck in it. Meanwhile, Max-Ernest is worried for his best friend. Can our expert hypochondriac diagnose Cass's condition before it's too late and will he have what it takes to save the survivalist.

A class trip to the natural history museum turns dangerous, or perhaps deadly when Cass accidentally breaks a finger off a priceless mummy. Forced to atone for this crime, Cass and her friends go to work for the mummy exhibit's curator, only to be blamed when tragedy strikes. To clear their names the trio must travel deep into a land of majestic pyramids, dusty tombs, mysterious hieroglyphs, and the walking dead.

A boy tries to fit into American society after he has grown up in India. The story concerns the death of a parent and details a traditional Indian cremation.

Plain Kate lives in a time afraid of magic. She has a gift for carving 'lucky' wooden-charms and is known as Witch-Blade. Her unusual gift attracts dangerous attention in a place where witches are burned. When her village falls on bad times, suspicion falls on Kate and, scared for her life, she seeks the help of a mysterious stranger. In exchange for her shadow, the stranger will assist her, but Kate becomes part of a terrifying plan, darker than she ever dreamed.

Dad is finally on his way home from The Great War. Everyone, especially Mum, is excited and full of plans for the homecoming and the future. Twelve year old Nell barely remembers Dad but when Spanish Influenza hits Perth, delaying his return, Nell begins to understand the gap in the family his absence has created.

While this story appears to be about the activities of a rebellious boy, there are underlying themes of anger and sadness over the break-up of a family.

Musical lover Riley has big aspirations to become a director on Broadway. Crucial to this plan is to bring back her high school's spring musical, but when Riley takes her mom's car without permission, she's grounded and stuck with the worst punishment: spending her after-school hours working at her dad's game shop. Riley can't waste her time working when she has a musical to save, so she convinces Nathan - a nerdy teen employee - to cover her shifts and, in exchange, she'll flirt with him to make his gamer-girl crush jealous. But Riley didn't realize that meant joining Nathan's Dungeons & Dragons game... or that role playing would be so fun. Soon, Riley starts to think that flirting with Nathan doesn't require as much acting as she would've thought...

When Pierrot becomes an orphan, he must leave Paris to live with Aunt Beatrix, a servant in a household at the top of the German mountains. This is no ordinary time. It is 1935 and the Second World War is fast approaching. And, this is no ordinary house, it is the Berghof, Adolf Hitler's home. Pierrot is thrown into an increasingly dangerous world of terror, secrets and betrayal, from which he may never be able to escape.

Eight year old Noah is running away from his problems, or at least that's what he thinks, the day he takes the untrodden path through the forest. When he comes across a very unusual toyshop and meets the even more unusual toymaker, he's not sure what to expect. But, the toymaker has a story to tell, a story full of adventure and wonder and broken promises.

Alfie's birthday is one he cannot forget, because it is the day World War I is announced. His life changes as his father enlists. Letters come, eagerly read between his mother, granny and himself. As the letters' cheerful tone changes, mother hides the letters and tells Alfie rather than reads what they contain. Then the letters stop and Alfie begins a mission of his own to find out the truth.

Tamsin must travel to the mysterious world of Avalon where she survives. Tamsin makes her way back into the mortal world however she discovers that she is cursed. Tamsin must break the curse before it breaks her.

The long-awaited and brand new adventure in the Young Samurai world, perfect for fans and new readers alike. A new instalment and standalone adventure charting series protagonist Jack Fletcher's return to pre-civil war England. His quest: to find his missing sister, with the help of some familiar faces...

Jack Fletcher is on the run. With no sensei to guide him, he has just his wits and his swords against many new and unknown enemies. Kidnapped by ninja and led to their village deep in the mountains, Jack has no means of escape. The only question is who will kill him first - the ninja or samurai.

After a snowstorm forces him to take shelter, Jack enters a village in need of protection from raiding mountain bandits. Torn between moving on or helping, Jack is persuaded to stay and fight the villagers' cause. But, Jack is the first and only samurai to do so. Now, he must enlist other warriors to the villagers' aid before the bandits return to steal their harvest. No easy task when the reward is so little and he is a foreigner. If only he had his friends to call on.

The Shogun has deemed that any Christian or foreigner discovered outside the bounds of an official trading port will be instantly put to death. For Jack, Nagasaki is within reach but the Shogun's samurai are closing in, with the help of Jack's old school rival, Kazuki, who has a score to settle. Jack must try to reach the city alive and find a ship bound for England.

Autumn, 1614. Bruised and battered, Jack Fletcher wakes up in a roadside inn wrapped only in a dirty kimono. He has lost everything, including his memory of what happened. Determined to discover the truth, Jack goes on a quest to retrieve his belongings, his precious swords, his friend Akiko's black pearl and, most important of all, his father's prize possession. Relying on his samurai and ninja training, Jack realises The Ring of Water is the key to his survival.

Ambushed by the Shogun's samurai, Jack and his friends have only one hope of escape, the Seto Sea. But, with ferocious storms, man-eating sharks and ninja pirates at every turn, their chosen route is fraught with danger. A treacherous crew only adds to their problems as they flee south from a ruthless samurai sea lord. Unless Jack can harness the Ring of Wind, he and his friends are destined for a watery grave.

1613. Japan is threatened with war and samurai are taking sides. As the battles begin, Jack's warrior training is put to the ultimate test. His survival depends upon him mastering the secret sword technique of the legendary samurai Masamoto. First Jack must recover his father's prize possession from the deadly ninja Dragon Eye.

1612. One year of training in samurai school and Jack is in real trouble. He is struggling to prepare for the Circle of Three which tests courage, skill and spirit to the limit. At the same time, Jack is caught in a running battle with fellow student Kazuki and his gang. Also he knows his deadly rival could strike at any moment.

It's1611 and Jack Fletcher is shipwrecked off the coast of Japan, his father and crew slaughtered by ninja pirates. Rescued by sword master Masamoto Takeshi, Jack's only hope is to become a samurai warrior. Life at the samurai school is a constant fight for survival. Jack is singled out by bullies and treated as an outcast.

Any five titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to 10 more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

This is a compilation of ten stories about the human response to war, with settings such as the Falklands, Sarajevo and Jerusalem.

Jack is a 13 year old who is trying to survive the end of the world with zombie-monsters apocalypses. With the help from Jack and his mates you will be amazed by the adventure they will have!

Jack, June, Quint, and Dirk have forgotten to write a promised sequel to their first Last Kids on earth Graphic Novel. While they hurriedly get to work, their superhero alter-egos make a startling discovery - supervillains do not come up with their own evil plans! Every supervillain scheme comes from the mind of a single, mysterious bad guy. Now, Jack, June, Quint, and Dirk's BIGGEST SEQUEL IN HISTORY has our superheroes in a mad-dash, puzzle-filled race across Apocalyptia to stop the BIGGEST EVIL PLAN IN HISTORY! How will they defeat the never-ending stream of villains and figure out who is behind the chaos? And will the sequel be finished in time? Join them and find out!

Set in England in 1381, this story of political and emotional unrest is seen through the eyes of an old farm dog.

Angie is an excellent judge of character and a very patient person. She has to be. As major babysitter to her two younger siblings, her stamina is tested to the limit.

When Nostradamus prophesises a great massacre, only Catherine de' Medici, mother of the young French King, Charles, pays heed to the dire warning. But, the soothsayer also has a message for Melisande, the minstrel's daughter. Upon his death, Nostradamus entrusts her with fulfilling his final prophecy.

Jim Bloggs, a lavatory assistant, is dissatisfied with his life and wishes to rise above his station, if only he had more education. Encouraged by his wife, Hilda, he explores options such as being a cowboy. He finally settles on being a highwayman but not everyone sees his trusty steed, and his quest to rob the rich and give to the poor, in a positive light.

Gentle cartoon pictures belie the hard hitting message as an elderly couple prepare for the nuclear holocaust with typically British, stiff upper lips.

A lonely girl discovers that she has inherited a property in northern Queensland. The grandfather she has never known goes with her to this unfamiliar, rural community.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic is the official book of the record-breaking British Library exhibition, a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between Bloomsbury, J.K. Rowling and a team of brilliant curators. This gorgeous book takes readers on a fascinating journey through the subjects studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, from Astronomy and Potions through to Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. Readers will be able to pore over ancient spell books, amazing illuminated scrolls that reveal the secret of the Elixir of Life, vials of dragon's blood, mandrake roots, painted centaurs and a genuine witch's broomstick, in a book that shows J.K. Rowling's magical inventions alongside their cultural and historical forebears.

Helene has been inextricably ostracised by the girls who were once her friends. Her school life is full of whispers and lies. Her loving mother is too tired to help. Helene has one consolation, Charlotte Bronte's Jayne Eyre, where she can identify with Jane's tribulations and ignore her tormentors. On school camp, an encounter with a fox brings hope for Helene, and then comes Geraldine.

Only nine when she is orphaned and sent to live with an unloving aunt, Jane spends miserable, lonely years at boarding school before becoming a governess in the home of a mysterious man. A classic story.

A collection of true maritime adventures across the seven seas with maps of the voyages. Contains the true life stories of danger, daring and saltwater including Francis Drake's first voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

Eleven thrilling, true stories of the world-shaping events of June 1944. Contains real life tales of courage and bravery during the struggle for the beaches of Normandy, from tank commanders to paratroopers, commando raiders to French Resistance fighters.

A riveting collection of true stories exploring the shadowy underworld of organised, and not so organised, crime. Contains stories of famous gangsters from Al Capone's reign of terror over Chicago to the last stand of Ned Kelly in the Australian bush. A great read and ideal for reluctant readers.

A thrilling collection of true stories about the Blitz of 1940, for modern young readers. Recounts the fascinating stories of ordinary Londoners who experienced the Blitz, including firefighters, fighter pilots and children evacuated far from their families.

A fantastic collection of true cowboy stories from the Old West. Contains stories of real life cowboys from Jesse James to Billy the Kid, the men who broke the law and those chasing them.

Endurance overcoming grief and the importance of family and friends. Heartland is a recovery centre for horses that have been rescued from neglect and physical cruelty. Amy and her mum try to rescue an abandoned stallion but disaster strikes.

Young orphan, Tree, fervently wishes to set up a home for himself and his brother away from the orphanage in this story about identity, belonging and the transfiguring power of love.

Boys will be boys and girls will be girls? Not in this book. More extraordinary true stories of amazing Boys and Girls, Women and Men, who broke the mould and changed the world for the better. Have the courage to be yourself, and your dreams might come true....

100 stories, with fun illustrations, about men and boys who have done something unusual or unexpected to make the world a better place. A beautiful and inspiring collection of stories about boys who changed the world without killing a single dragon or saving a single princess.

Caz and Simon are on a quest to find the lost city of Atlantis. They encounter many perils and adventures. When they think they have survived the very worst that could happen, they realise that an even greater danger awaits them.

Adyren, a junior archivist in the Great Library of Quentaris, loves to read about the adventurers who have come out of the Rift Caves alive to tell their stories of danger and excitement. She thinks her life is so dull by comparison until she is accused of not one, but three thefts.

Sam has been saving his paper-round money for years to buy a boat. When a mysterious person doubles the money in his bank account, Sam could never imagine the trouble it would cause.

When Aiden is lost in the forest, he is drawn into the mystery of a boy who disappeared in the same forest two years before.

Her friends live in fancy houses and their parents can afford to send them to the best summer camps. Vera's single mother can't afford that sort of luxury, but there's one summer camp in her price range - Russian summer camp. Vera is sure she's found the one place she can fit in, but camp is far from what she imagined. And nothing could prepare her for all the "cool girl" drama, endless Russian history lessons, and outhouses straight out of nightmares!

At nineteen, Ern signs up for the army to fight with the ANZACs. By twenty two, he is a prisoner of war. Ern and his mates are determined to escape and join their comrades in war.

In 1834, six Dorset farm labourers were sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia. Their crime, setting up a friendly society to bargain for better wages to escape appalling poverty. The true story of the youngest Tolpuddle martyr, James Brine.

Specialist instruction book that will appeal to students interested in art and drawing. Step-by-step instructions and examples included.

Jack disappears down a tunnel and is turned to stone. Fairytale-loving Rose has to restore him to flesh and blood. A dark, but ultimately, liberating fantasy about sibling rivalry, stereotyping, fear and the power of love.

A seemingly friendly sky-city appears to trade with Quentaris but all is not what it seems, and a dragon, its hatching egg and an equen all play their part in trying to save Quentaris.

Dive into the world of business with this lively introduction, whether you want to be an entrepreneur or a smarter consumer. With bright, infographic pictures, it describes how to start your own business, manage your money and beat the competition and explains global supply chains and interest rates. Includes links to websites to find out more.

Nobody has everything they need, all the time - so how can we make do with what we have? Economics is all about understanding the choices we make to solve this problem. With bright infographics, this informative book describes why markets are so important, how businesses work out what to sell, and how governments choose how to run a country. Includes Usborne Quicklinks to specially selected websites for more information.

An entertaining and accessible look at the how and who of scientific discovery; the wonder and mysteries of time and space; the frequently bizarre and often obsessive scientists and the methods they used; the crackpot theories which held sway and the extraordinary, accidental discoveries which advanced whole areas of science.

Amelia Earhart was the first female aviator to cross the Atlantic. This courageous pilot disappeared in terrible weather conditions after flying out of Australia. She believed women must attempt the same challenges as men.

Ben learns about extinction and survival when he changes from helping the hunter to saving the wolves. The hunter becomes the hunted in this story of the sole surviving grey wolf cub.

Miss Muffet, yes the one in that nursery rhyme, doesn't have one problem - she has thousands, all of them with 8 legs. Harry Pigg is on the case and unfortunately he hates spiders, but he needs the work.

Can Harry Pigg find and save Santa before it's too late. Why would anyone want to kidnap such a great guy.

Harry Pigg, the only surviving brother from the Big Bad Wolf attacks, has set up business as a private in Grimmtown, only things aren't going too well. Down on his luck, with bills to pay and no clients in sight the outlook is poor. But then in walks local businessman Aladdin who needs someone to help him track down an old lamp.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

There are zero reasons for Theo Ripley to look forward to his family vacation. Not only are he, sister Laura, and nature-obsessed Dad going to Big Bend, the least popular National Park, but once there, the family will be camping. And Theo is an indoor animal. It doesn't help that this will be the first vacation they're taking since Mom passed away. Once there, the family contends with 110 degree days, wild bears, and an annoying amateur ornithologist and his awful teenage vlogger son. Then, Theo's dad hits him with a whopper of a surprise: the whole trip is just a trick to introduce his secret new girlfriend. Theo tries to squash down the pain in his chest. But when it becomes clear that this is an auditioning-to-be-his-stepmom girlfriend, Theo must find a way to face his grief and talk to his dad before his family is forever changed.

Burrow underground with a mole rat, join a brown bear on a fishing expedition, witness a honeybee dance and take flight with a flock of flamingos. Explore the incredible animal kingdom and find out how animals move, communicate, hunt and feed in their natural habitats.

13-year-old Tom scrapes a living as a pick-pocket on the street of London until the day his friends are caught and sent to a brutal workhouse. Frantic to save them, Tom takes up an offer from the enigmatic Corsair to train at an elite boarding school for thieves. Tom is swept into the world of the Shadow League where his street smarts give him an edge - and make him dangerous enemies. But the more he learns about this place, the harder it is for him to leave and rescue his friends. Dark forces are at work. And Tom is the only one who knows it.

Abandoned to his fate when his English parents die in the African jungle, a baby boy is rescued and reared by a loving ape, foster mother. Tarzan grows into a mighty warrior, becoming leader of his tribe of apes, until he encounters humans for the first time.

In November 1805, after a perilous trek across North America, William Clark and Meriwether Lewis finally spotted the Pacific Ocean. It was a triumphant, hard-won victory, after risking death by starvation, wild animals, poor weather and hostile Native American tribes.

A disturbing tale of strange and dangerous beings beyond the physical world. When fourteen year old Verity sees a weird, semi-visible figure, her brother tells her it is a harmless Lurker. But Lurkers feed on human imagination and this one is using her brother to become more solid and independent. Verity must fight to save her brother's mind.