Booklists

Zeelie wonders if they're in danger. When temperatures soar to 47 degrees one hot summer day, 12-year-old Zeelie hopes the nearby bushfires everyones talking about aren't heading towards her family's new home. What will they do if the wind changes direction? What about their belongings and their beloved pets? And why hasn't her mum and brother returned from Melbourne? Nothing can prepare Zeelie for what's to come.

Something odd has happened to the public swimming pool, its claimed to have curative powers. When 16 year old Wolfgang Mulqueen takes a summer job there, he befriends Audrey, a blind girl, who claims she's nocturnal. The discovery of a black butterfly, unknown to science, and an unusual request from Audrey's father change Wolfgang's life forever. Deals with serious issues in a sensitive manner. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Treachery, betrayal, greed and racism played out in a mythical, fantastical, medieval kingdom. Ora must confront the King's terrible secret, related to the pervasive Quickwater Lake. A lake, black and deadly as night, that demands sacrifice. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Joshi is a disappointment to those around him. Born into the powerful Nibhelline family, he displays none of the proud fighting traditions of the Greens. He even prefers gardening and growing flowers to living up to the family name. So, when Joshi meets Abelha, the bee girl, and learns of the existence of a mysterious green flower, he finally has a chance to earn the respect of the Greens.

Sixteen year old Sunday Balewo is next in line for the presidency of Zantuga. When his father and mother are killed in an explosion, Sunday finds himself on the run from the unlikeliest of assassins, a baboon with a bomb.

Roald Dahl recounts his life as a child, growing up in England.

Following on from Dahl's childhood experiences, explored in his autobiography, Boy, this book tells the hilarious and true stories of his experiences working for Shell Oil in Africa and becoming a fighter pilot during World War II. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Tom Daley captured the hearts of the nation with his unforgettable medal-winning performance in the London 2012 Olympics. At the 2020 Games in Tokyo, he triumphed to win gold and became the most decorated British diver of all time. In this deeply personal book, Tom explores the experiences that have shaped him and the qualities to which he owes his contentment and success; from the resilience he developed competing at world-class level, to the courage he discovered while reclaiming the narrative around his identity, and the perspective that family life has brought him. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above

As many others had done, Australian 16 year-olds Frankie and Taz lied about their ages to enlist for WWI, one envisaging the adventure of a lifetime, the other to assuage guilt about staying at home when his brothers have died in the war. On the German side, Richard, also 16, finds himself assigned in one of the first German tanks. The three are destined to meet in the same shelled out crater during history's first tank battle.

Beginning in 1490, Anacaona keeps a record of her life as a possible successor to the supreme chief of Xaragua, as wife of the chief of Maguana and as a warrior battling the first white men to arrive in the West Indies, ravenous for gold.

Eleven year old Ebony has a secret, one not be shared with anyone. The eldest of three, soon to be four, children, Ebony has a difficult second role after school, looking after her siblings, farm chores such as chopping wood and gathering the cow manure, all at the forceful directive of her father. Every so often the roaring, terrifying tiger that dwells within her father springs to the surface leaving the rest of the family nowhere to hide and Ebony becomes protector of her sisters, becoming the target of his vocal and physical abuse. It is only through a new friendship when Teena arrives at the school, that Ebony sees a way of dealing with the tiger. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

March was born in April, just as the sun set. She is a singing baby, who never sleeps. The town of Kolkaper is on edge and the Town Council orders scientists to take her away to the Cave Forest, a place to study freaks like her. Acting quickly, March's parents send her to safety in a distant town. But, March's destiny lies in the town of her birth and she must return to save the city from itself.

Tick and his friends are still trying to work out how to defeat Mistress Jane, but when there are 13 realities from which to draw trouble, the battle is 13 times as hard.

Tick, Sophia and Paul have agreed to work with Master George as realitants, protecting the 12 realities from Reginald Chu and his desire for total domination of all the realities. But Mistress Jane, in her warped 13th reality, has other ideas. And when Chu decides he needs either Tick or Jane to fulfill his plans, the unlikely duo find themselves having to work together for the greater good. But what is it about Tick that has everyone, even Master George, determined to stop him?

Early in the twentieth century, scientists interested in quantum physics made a momentous discovery. Now, 13 year old Tick has received a letter that invites him to solve twelve clues in order to stop reality from 'splitting at the seams'. Along the way, Tick has to face up to some of his biggest fears and suspend his disbelief. The obvious reward might be saving many lives, but the unexpected rewards include seeing how awesome his dad really is and making some real friends for the first time in his life.

The time for Wocked's lies is over, but the truth could be more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine. Includes some violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The government needs Michael to track down a rogue gamer, but the risk is enormous and the line between game and reality could be blurred forever. Includes some violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The world has ended: the earth is scorched, and fever rages through the population. Out of the chaos, a boy emerges with the power to change everything: Thomas. This is the start of his story.

Prequel to the Maze Runner series. Before Wicked was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease. The Kill Order is the story of that fall. Some violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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.

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.

The Gladers don't remember how they came to be in their strange world, escaping from Grievers and running to solve the bizarre maze, which changes every night. When Thomas arrives, he feels a strong urge to become a Runner and solve the maze. Includes some violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Solving the maze was supposed to be the end and Thomas was sure he would get his life back. But burned and baked, the earth is a wasteland and people are driven made by an infection knows as the flare and Thomas and the gladers must face another trial. Includes some violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A balanced view of the Vietnam War is presented but it does not tell the whole story, nor does it pretend to. For mature students, the book has evocative and harrowing descriptions of war, the role of the allied soldiers and the tactics of the Vietcong. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Part of the ANZAC story. Factual historical recollections are combined with a fiction to reveal the thoughts and feelings of the young soldiers and the horrendous conditions they endured and survived.

With each year of drought the heat became worse. The lawns and crops withered and died. Buildings began to crumble and collapse, and more people left the city. George and his little brother, Beeper, become worried when their father fails to return from a trip to town for food and fuel. Fear for the safety of their dad quickly becomes a fight for their own survival in the hot and brutal conditions. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Whether it's a car with two, three or six wheels, with a motor scooter engine or a nuclear reactor, with the most stupid name or the most dodgy design,this book will tell you all you need to know about it. Featuring the lemons of the car world.

Throughout history, people all over the world have invented stories to answer profound questions. These fantastical myths are fun but they don't really answer the questions. With its scientific method explanations of space, time, evolution and more, this book presents the real story of the world, and shows that its awe-inspiring beauty and thrilling magic far exceed those of the ancient myths. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An exciting resource for fans seeking the inspirational source of Tolkien's beasts, flora and fauna.

Teenage years can sometimes feel like a battleground. There are so many confronting issues from fears of failure, confidence, self-worth or identity to the inevitable friendship challenges. This survival guide from 32 influential and witty women will include advice you will need to survive the battle. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Alif had exciting summer plans: working on her father's archaeological dig site in the desert with four close friends ... and a very cute research assistant. Then the sandstorm hit. With their camp wiped away, Alif and the others find themselves lost on the sands, seemingly doomed, until they discover the oasis. It has everything they need: food, water, shade and mysterious ruins that hide a deadly secret. As reality starts to shift around them, they question what's real and what's a mirage. The answers turn Alif and her friends against each other and they start to wonder if they are really saved. While it was easy to walk into the oasis, it might be impossible to leave. A supernatural thriller.

Four months after fleeing his own people, Kellen has discovered he's an even worse outlaw than he is a mage. It doesn't help that his only allies are a swaggering card player and a thieving squirrel cat. Then he meets Seneira, a blindfolded girl who isn't blind. Her secrets pull them into a conspiracy of magic, blackmail and murder.

Raised in a magic family, in a magic community, The son of the most powerful wizard faces an unspeakable challenge. His magic is fading. Can the mysterious stranger in town help him, or is she a spy trying to bring down the entire city. Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 & above.

The mad Don Quixote wanders 16th century Spain looking for chivalrous deeds to do and wrongs to right. Lots of adventures with interesting characters, a barber, monks, shepherds, inn keepers, all of whom involve humour and misunderstandings.

Toby Lolness may be only one and a half millimetres tall but he is involved in a huge and harrowing fight for his life and the safety of his family. A thrilling tale of state control, betrayal, cruelty, heroism, friendship and survival in a violent, miniature world that is not for the faint-hearted. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Toby's world is under greater threat than ever before. A giant crater has been dug right into the centre of the Tree, moss and lichen invade the branches, and one tyrant controls it all. Leo Blue, once Toby's best friend, now his worst enemy, is holding Elisha prisoner and mercilessly hunting the Grass People. But returning after several years among the Grass People, Toby will fight back. And this time, he's not alone. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Vango is about to enter the priesthood when he suddenly finds himself trying to avoid arrest and escape an assassin. Vango is no ordinary boy with an ordinary life - he has had all kinds of adventures since he was found washed ashore as a toddler on a tiny island off Sicily. Now on the run across Europe, will Vango discover the secrets of his mysterious past in time to figure out who is trying to have him killed - and why.

Fleeing from the police and more sinister forces on his trail, Vango must race against time to prove his innocence. His journey will take him to the furthest reaches of distant lands, and even into the sky where he will find refuge on board the Graf Zeppelin. But the threat of war is getting closer, and Vango must uncover the secrets of his past before everything is lost.

As battle cries of the American Revolution echo in the distance, servants flutter about preparing for one of New York society's biggest events: the Schuylers' grand ball. Eliza can barely contain her excitement when she hears of the arrival of one Alexander Hamilton, a mysterious young colonel and General George Washington's right-hand man. When Alex and Eliza meet that fateful night, so begins an epic love story that would forever change the course of American history. A fictionalised version of what might have been, featuring figures from the Tony winning Broadway musical.

Clark Kent has always been faster, stronger, better than everyone around him. But he wasn't raised to show off, and drawing attention to himself could be dangerous. Plus, it's not like he's earned his powers . . . yet. Lately it's difficult to hold back and keep his heroics in the shadows. When Clark follows the sound of a girl crying, he discovers a dark secret lurking in Smallville. Teaming up with his best friend, Lana Lang, he throws himself into the pursuit of the truth. What evil lies below the surface of his small town? And what will it cost Clark to step into the light to become the future Man of Steel?

Lou Bertignac's father cries in secret in the bathroom and her mother hasn't been out of the house properly for years. But, Lou is about to change her life and that of her parents for good, all because of a school project she decides to do about the homeless. Lou meets No, a teenage girl living on the streets, who has disruptive as well as positive effects on the whole family. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 or above.

The great chief matriarch is dying and has no heir. Drawing her last breath, she gives a final decree that, upon her death, there will be a contest to decide the one truly worthy to rule in her place. The rich, the strong, the wise and the powerful put forward their names in the hope of being chosen. When the night comes, only fifty souls are summoned. Fifty souls bound to the same fate. But, this is no ordinary trial. And, so begins the first task. Graphic novel.

Accompanied by a talking possum and a tracker gnome, Colin and Grieve set out on a mad-cap and thrilling adventure to rescue the Shimmer. It is part of the stone of creation and has been stolen by power-mad, completely evil fairies.

"We can't wait three days. There is a man coming to kill us." A Man with a silver hand. It's 1918 and the Great War is entering its final phase. In Northern France, young Aimee has just found out that her mother is part of a spy network working with the British. After reluctantly befriending Marius, a young German boy who has been left behind by his countrymen, she must try and help him get back behind German lines while they evade a traitor she helped to discover.

Discover all the foul facts about France, including which king thought he was made of glass, why French bread was once made from broken tiles and bricks, and how to play hopscotch like a French highwayman.

Discover the wild warriors who fought the Roman army with swords and spears while collecting human heads. If this bloodthirsty book isn't nasty enough for you, you must be a cut-throat Celt yourself.

The most horrible book yet. Take a whirlwind tour through the most dreadful, disastrous and deadly days in the whole of horrible history, from the grim Great Fire of Rome to the vile St Valentine's Day Massacre, leaving the gory bits in and the boring bits out.

Discover all the foul facts about Ireland. Find out why wax models were captured and made Prisoners of War, which warriors went to battle naked, and how to make yourself invisible.

Terry Deary reveals the horrible history of knights - all the gore and more. Readers should forget the fairy tales from days of old when knights were supposed to be bold and damsels were always in distress, and brace themselves for the terrible truth about the cold-blooded killers. From Arthur and his mythical knights to warrior kings and cruel crusades there are foul facts on a whole host of nasty knights plus dire details of the weapons they used and the rotten rules of knight fights.

Go underground to discover London's putrid past. Take a trip to the terrifying Tower and then dip into the River Thames, London's largest toilet. Find out the ten worst ways to make a living in the city and the most disgusting way to die. History has never been so horrible.

Travel back into the measly Middle Ages, where the world was full of wild women, mad monks, naughty knights and crazy kings and queens. Discover a genuine jester's joke, why chickens had their bottoms shaved and what ten year old treacle was used for. History with the nasty bits left in.

Reveals the terrible truth behind the lousy pirate legends and lies, so forget the brave heroes swinging from masts and the handsome young men sailing the seven seas for this is history as it's most horrible. Readers can decide who was the baddest of the bunch in the top ten of putrid pirates, discover why the women pirates were just as wicked as the men and learn to talk the patter of a Pirate. Plus there are foul facts on the ships they sailed, the punishments they suffered and the rules they lived by.

It's 1348 and the shadow of the Black Death is descending over England. Geoffrey Copton returns from the war in France, only to find himself caught up in a plot to rob and kill an innocent man. Will Geoffrey and his friend Meg manage to save the day, or will the dastardly plotters get away with the gold ...and with murder.

Readers can discover all the foul facts about Rotten Rulers, including who gave the job of high priest to a donkey, who choked to heath while eating a crow and who celebrated victory by eating his enemy's head.

Readers can discover all the foul facts about the Ruthless Romans, including which emperor enjoyed eating camel's heels, who were the terrible twins who founded Rome and which evil emperors made murder a sport.

Discover all the facts about the Savage Stone Age including what they used instead of toilet paper, why a hole in the skull is good for headaches, and how to make a Stone Age mummy.

This is a sickening story which started when gibbering King James I took the throne. Find out why some slimy Stuarts ate toads, snails and fleas; why people wore fish on their feet, and which king picked his nose and never washed his hands. Also find out the gruesome truth about ghastly Guy Fawkes, the tragic tales of women accused of witchcraft and the ever-present threat of the perilous plague.

Find out the terrible truth about the pillaging people who bashed the Brits but got nobbled by the Normans, including who got cow pats as Christmas presents or why wearing a pig on your head was lucky. Read on for foul facts on disgusting diseases and ghastly graves.

Discover all the foul facts about the stormin' Normans, including why Norman knights slept with a dolly, which pirate hung up his eye-patch and became a saint, and why Crusader ships were defended with barrels of wee.

History has never been so horrible. Foul facts about the cruellest kings and meanest queens ever to rule England. Find out about the terrible tale of an awful axeman, why Henry VIII thought he'd married a horse and brush up your knowledge of Tudor torture.

Discover all the foul facts about the Angry Aztecs, including why the Aztecs liked to eat scum, when the world is going to end and their horrible habit of drinking live toads in wine. Filled with foul facts, terrible timelines and a grisly quiz.

Find out how a pair of old socks gave away top secrets, how sniffing your own wee could save your life in the First World War, why wearing white knickers could get you killed in the Second World War. The First World War was meant to last four months but ground on for four grim years. The Second World War gives you the dire details about the snow-bound cities under siege and fly-infested jungle trenches.

From poor hygiene and terrible food to a country overrun with body snatchers and thief-takers, the poor old Georgians didn't stand much of a chance in a country run by unsuitable politicians and less than stable monarchs.

The hip and fabulous Greeks hung out over two thousand years ago. Meet horrible heroes, suffering slaves and foolish philosophers. Find out about the world's first flushing toilet and why dedicated doctors tasted their patients' ear wax.

Life in ancient Rome from Nero to Boudicca includes gory games, rotten recipes and lots of frightening facts.

Discover all the foul facts about the USA, including which president was so scared of electric switches that he slept with his light on, why cowboys declared war on sheep and how to have a civil battle.

Packed with frightening facts about the vile invaders from the North and their savage enemies, including such legendary warriors as Fat-thighs, Oaf, and Stinking.

They may have looked all prim and proper but the Victorians were a jolly naughty bunch, who could be vicious and violent and villainous. Discover the murderers who wouldn't hang, when the first public loo was flushed and about stag hunting in Paddington Station. History with the nasty bits left in.

Readers can discover all the foul facts about the villainous Victorians, including why burglars were scared of bogies, which poet said he ate an ape and how a snick fadger might kiddy-nap your spangle.

Discover all the foul facts about England, including which monk tried to pinch the devil's nose with a pair of tongs, why some people in the Middle Ages ate dove droppings, and which English king was accused of being a werewolf.

The incredible Incas may have built South America's greatest civilisation but they could be very icky indeed. The poor prisoners who pulled up their huge pyramids were likely to experience a very painful death. But, things weren't much better for your average Inca. Find out how a bucket of stewed pee could make you beautiful, why servants ate the emperor's hair and what chilling fate awaited their child sacrifices.

Find out if you could have survived in the Blitz when all of London and many other English cities were bombed heavily and constantly. You might be the sort of person who would remember to always have a gas mask with you or who actually liked the meals that can be made with rationed food. You might even want to escape mum and dad for a bit but maybe not for six years. A sad time in history still had its funny moments.

This book is packed with quizzes, facts and ghastly details of the lives, habits and customs of the ancient Egyptians.

Tells the story of the Scots, from the desperate Dark Ages to the terrible 20th century. It provides facts on cool kings, cruel kings, mean queens and wise women. Find out about William Wallace, Braveheart and gory Scottish ghost stories.

Discover all the foul facts about the Twentieth Century, including who shocked the world by showing her knickers, how two monkeys and a dog became astronauts, and why a posh London restaurant served stewed cat.

Discover all the foul facts about dark knights and dingy castles, including why one nutty knight chopped off his own finger, the revolting truth about a gong-farmer's job and what went on in gruesome castle garderobes.

Discover all the foul facts about rowdy revolutions, including which Chinese emperor was overthrown by his mum, why one revolution made ugly people very scared indeed and what Count Dracula was really like.

Discover how to be very rude without anybody knowing, some murky Medieval jokes and what to say if someone calls you mundungus, hackum or Jabbernowl.

Australian refugee stories is a unique anthology of essays, interviews, and stories written by children and young adults. The stories are the finest of hundreds collected through a nationwide schools competition in 2002. The essays and stories represent many different countries and themes. Some focus on survival, some on horrors, some on the experiences and alienation of a new world. This book is usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above, and contains stories featuring difficult and potentially confronting subjects and experiences.

Ella is very good at providing advice to her friends. But, when her group begins to fall apart, Ella discovers that perhaps she is not as 'together' as she thought. Contains minor references to smoking and alcohol. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

There is a wealth of dinosaur information in this book, as well as accounts of the palaeontologists who made many of the famous discoveries.

Not all is froth and bubble in Lucy's celebrity world. Her parents are on the verge of breaking up over some earth-shattering rumours and Lucy must come to terms with their fallibility and her own. Lucy juggles the cat walk, the soccer pitch, the high life and the good life as she learns the value of relationships.

Lucy appears to have everything, looks, brains, her parents are an international sports star and owners of a successful fashion label. All they want is for her to be a top fashion model, even more successful than her mother. But Lucy has the soccer gene and all she wants is to be as successful as her father who plays for Milan.

The classic story of an English sailor marooned on a desert island for nearly thirty years.

From the brilliantly bent imagination of Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus comes a ripsnorter of an adventure. Jim Sturges is a typical teen, with an embarrassingly overprotective dad, a best mate called 'Tubby' and a huge crush on a girl who doesn't seem to know he exists. Until the day a 45 year old mystery resurfaces to threaten the lives of everyone in his apparently sleepy town. Children are going missing again, and it is up to Jim Jnr to team up with a band of unlikely heroes to battle the monsters of the night. Monsters with very dangerous appetites. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

"He's the seventh son of a seventh son. His name is Thomas J. Ward and he's my gift to the County. When he's old enough we'll send you word. Train him well. He'll be the best apprentice you've ever had and he'l also be your last." These were the words of Tom's Mam to the county Spook some years ago. As Tom, the Spook and their allies prepare to battle with the Fiend on a huge scale, to finally enact their revenge, it now remains to be seen whether Mam's declaration will come true.

Alice is the most powerful witch the county has ever seen. She may one day be the most evil. But Alice is also the best friend -and true love- of Tom Ward. Together they work to defeat the Fiend -the world's greatest evil- once and for all. They have nearly everything they need, all except a blade hidden in the Dark, the Fiend's domain. So Alice ventures there to find it. She faces the most terrifying creatures in existence. And she once again battles old enemies who bear grudges: Bony Lizzie, Bloodeye, and more. And there's something Tom didn't tell her. To vanquish the Fiend, Tom must sacrifice the person he loves most. Alice is hunting for the very blade that will eventually kill her.

One witch is the most feared, the most ruthless, and the most deadly of all the witches in the county. If she hunts for you, she will find you. If you have crossed her, you don't stand a chance. She is the witch assassin, and her name is Grimalkin. Grimalkin's one alliance is with Tom Ward, the Spook's apprentice. With Tom, she plans to rid the world of the most terrifying evil, the Fiend, who once did her great wrong. For the first time, fans of the Last Apprentice series will hear the story from Grimalkin's side, as she is hunted herself by creatures of darkness set on revenge. Grimalkin has never been defeated. But can she survive an enemy created for the sole purpose of destroying her?

The dark is full of terrifying creatures. And Tom Ward -- the seventh son of a seventh son, and the Spook's last apprentice -- hasn't seen all of them. Far from the county, one named Slither has lived for hundreds of years, hunting blood. But a dying father binds the monster to a bargain. If Slither will take his two youngest daughters safely to their family in the south, then the eldest daughter, Nessa, is his. For Nessa the nightmare is just beginning. And when Slither and Nessa cross paths with the feared witch assassin Grimalkin, they will become unwitting players in the quest to stop the Fiend once and for all.

For years, the local Spook has been keeping the County safe from evil. Now his time is coming to an end and many apprentices have tried to take over. Some floundered, some fled and some failed to stay alive. Thirteen year old Thomas Ward is the last hope. He is the seventh son of a seventh son which means he has special gifts to fight evil. He must defeat Mother Malkin, the most dangerous witch in the County.

In Pendle, the witches are rising and the three most powerful clans are rumoured to be uniting in order to conjure up an unimaginable evil. Tom Ward and the Spook need to avert the unthinkable. But, before they go, the Spook tells Tom to journey home to collect the trunks Mam left behind for him. But, dark family secrets are contained in the trunks which may place Tom's family in even greater danger.

Time is running out for Thomas Ward. His final battle against the Fiend is drawing near, and the Spook's apprentice has never felt more alone in his task. Isolated and afraid, the Fiend is set to send the greatest of his servants against him - Siscoi, a Vampire God more ferocious than anything he has yet faced. Tom must risk his life to prevent the evil beast from entering this world, even as he learns that the final destruction of the Fiend may involve a sacrifice more terrible than he can imagine...

It's the job of the Spook and his apprentice, Thomas Ward, to protect the County from the dark. But, deep in the catacombs below Priestown lurks the Bane, a creature the Spook has never been able to defeat. As they prepare to battle it, yet another deadly enemy emerges to threaten Tom and his master.

A dangerous few months lie ahead--ones which some of us will be hard-pressed to survive. Thomas Ward has served as the Spook's apprentice for three years. He has battled boggarts, witches, demons, and even the devil himself. Tom has enemies: The Fiend stalks him, waiting for a moment of weakness. The terrifying Morrigan, goddess of witches, warned him never to step foot on her homeland, Ireland. But now war has consumed their own country, and Tom, his friend Alice, and the Spook must flee to Ireland. The dark rages strongly there. No one can be trusted. Can Tom defeat the creatures that hunt him most fiercely?

As danger increases, Tom is sent north by his master to be trained by Bill Arkwright, another Spook who lives in a haunted mill on the edge of a treacherous marsh. His training methods are harsh and cruel as he prepares Tom for grave dangers. When the Fiend sends his own daughter, the powerful water witch Morwena, to destroy Tom, Arkwright makes an error of judgement and leaves Tom to face his enemies alone.

The Spook and his apprentice, Thomas Ward, have returned to the county after a long journey and a hard battle. But their troubles are far from over. Their home has been over-run by enemy soldiers. Tom, Alice and the Spook flee across the ocean to the island of Mona. It's on Mona that this small band fighting against the dark will face an old enemy grown terrifyingly powerful. Will they be able to vanquish an evil that crawls beneath the ground itself? At what cost? Will Tom and the Spook ever be able to return home?

As the Spook's apprentice, Tom's first duty is to protect the County. But, Mam needs his help in Greece, her homeland. One of the old gods, the Ordeen, is about to return, bringing slaughter and devastation. Mam has summoned a powerful group to her side, including Tom's old enemy, the Pendle witches. Tom must find out what secret Mam is keeping from him and decide whether to go against everything the Spook has taught him.

As the nights draw in, the Spook decides to travel to his winter house. His apprentice, Tom, hates the desolate place. There are feral witches in the cellar, menacing creatures stirring on the nearby moors and a sinister stranger threatening Tom's master. Many dangers will face Tom if his master's past and secrets are revealed.

Although not the most influential European royals, Elisabeth is still fascinating. As she begins her diary, the fifteen year old reveals her true passions, the outdoors, her family's home called Possenhofen, poetry, her pets, her father and horseback riding.

Ever since her father was exposed as a witch and a traitor, Winnie and her family have been shunned. But on her sixteenth birthday, she can take the deadly Luminary hunter trials and prove herself true and loyal -- and restore her family's good name. Or die trying. But in order to survive, Winnie enlists the help of the one person who can help her train: Jay Friday, resident bad boy and Winnie's ex-best friend. While Jay might be the most promising new hunter in Hemlock Falls, he also seems to know more about the nightmares of the forest than he should. Together, he and Winnie will discover a danger lurking in the forest no one in Hemlock Falls is prepared for. Not all monsters can be slain, and not all nightmares are confined to the dark. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Michaela DePrince grew up in war-torn Sierra Leone, witnessing shocking atrocities. When her father is killed and her mother dies of famine, Michaela is sent to an orphanage. She is adopted by an American couple but life isn't without difficulties. When Michaela begins ballet lessons, she faces racism and prejudice, and has to fight for a place amongst the ballet elite to become an international ballet star.

This story is set in a fishing village near Bombay, India, and tells of the two oldest children and their struggle to keep the family together.

Jinx and MacKenna are thrown into survival mode as they fight their way across a war-torn country to rescue their little brother Charles. They will question themselves, their ideas and the integrity of everyone around them, before they get to the bottom of the political conspiracy that caused the civil war. Their only hope for survival, and rescuing Charles, might be following Dr. Doomsday's Guide.

A novelisation of the film screen play in which a young Indian girl's talent for soccer is discovered. The issues, of cultural expectations of girls and the problems of living between two cultures, are raised.

It is the 24th of December and mean, old Ebenezer Scrooge sits in his freezing office, refusing to acknowledge that it's Christmas. But, that night, the miser has a terrifying visitor, his dead business partner, Marley, who comes to warn that the ghosts from Scrooge's past, present and future are about to arrive.

For David Copperfield, orphaned and with a cruel stepfather, the future looks bleak. But, a new start beckons, first with the magnificent Mr Micawber and then with his eccentric aunt, Betsey Trotwood. David encounters a range of people who will change his fortunes in very different ways, and his life forever.

Written in 1840, this is the classic story of Little Nell and her grandfather who inhabit a shadowy world.

When orphan, Oliver Twist, asks nasty Mr Bumble for more food, he has to flee the workhouse for the streets of London. There, he meets the Artful Dodger, who leads him to Fagin and his gang of pickpockets. When a thieving mission goes wrong, Oliver narrowly avoids prison and finds himself in the care of kind Mr Brownlow. But Fagin and the brutal Bill Sikes are determined to drag Oliver back.

The people of the Valley have been protected for twenty generations by a magic force. The spell is weakening, enemies are waiting. Tilja, her companions and an obstinate horse seek a man who can control the rope of time, the Ropemaker.

The story of Sally Dingo's husband, Ernie, and his mob written for children.

Broody McHottiepants is our brooding YA hero and he has decided to write a book about how to become a main character. He certainly seems to know every trick in the YA novelist's trade. But his evil ex-girlfriend, Blondie DeMeani, has sneakily added her own two cents worth within the pages of his book to keep him honest. This is part guide book, part clever exploration of all the YA tropes.

Set in the Western Australian goldfields in the 1930s, Neil describes the sometimes violent life on the diggings. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Louis has to adapt to moving from the city to a country, coastal town as well as dealing with the Year 8 bullies and the tragic Tilly. His dad's shop hasn't sold a single thing, his mum's lost her job and Louis wants to return to the city. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Maddie and her mother are to be evicted from their home in the grounds of the Delamore's big house. Maddie and Delia Delamore take the dog for a walk. They enter an alley to find a gang of kidnappers waiting, with surprising results.

After the death of his parents, Rick goes to live with his cousins in the outback. He finds it very hard to adjust and his cousins have difficulty relating to his grief. A dangerous adventure changes everything. Some strong language in context.

Living on Hope Street is a glimpse of modern day Australia through the lens of a single street and the families that make their lives along it. Kane will do everything he can to save his mother and his little brother Sam from the violence of his father, even if it means becoming a monster himself. Mrs Aslan will protect the boys no matter what, even though her own family is in pieces. Ada wants a family she can count on, while she faces new questions about herself. Mr Bailey is afraid of the refugees next door, but his worst fear will take another form. And Gugulethu is just trying to make a life away from terror. On this street, everyone comes from different places, but to find peace they will have to discover what unites them. A deeply moving, unflinching portrait of modern Australian suburban life. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In 1903, on the windy dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the dream of humans to fly finally came true. Two brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, were former bicycle mechanics who built their first toy plane, a rubber-band powered rotary when they were just children. They finally solved the flying problems that had grounded so many others.

Neil Armstrong was America's rocket man, the first person to set foot on the moon and turn science fiction into amazing reality. He studied aeronautical engineering, won medals as a fighter pilot, tried out the X-15 experimental rocket plane and become one of the elite few chosen to be a NASA astronaut.

Anh Do, comedian and television personality, arrived in Australia as a baby in a boat full of desperate family members who suffered the perils of the sea. A mother's sacrifice, a father's heroism and their adventures in a new land are inspiring. Some strong language used in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Eleanor Jones has just started at her ninth high school in less than five years. Since she and her mum are always moving on, Eleanor likes to stay on the outer, to stay invisible. So maybe it's just bad luck that the very first person she talks to at Cooinda Secondary College, Angus Marshall, is stabbed and left for dead the same day. The last message on Angus's phone is from Eleanor Jones. After being interviewed by the police, Eleanor realises they don't have all the facts and decides to investigate. In trying to understand what happened to Angus, Eleanor inadvertently becomes involved with an eclectic group of fellow students - all of whom have their own reasons to want to solve the mystery. As they slowly unravel Angus's secrets, Eleanor discovers the true meaning of friendship - and uncovers a danger lurking at the heart of the town...

For Marie-Laure, blind since the age of six, the world is full of mazes. The miniature of a Paris neighbourhood, made by her father to teach her the way home. The microscopic layers within the invaluable diamond that her father guards in the Museum of Natural History. The walled city by the sea, where father and daughter take refuge when the Nazis invade Paris. And a future which draws her ever closer to Werner, a German orphan, destined to labour in the mines until a broken radio fills his life with possibility and brings him to the notice of the Hitler Youth. In this magnificent, deeply moving novel, the stories of Marie-Laure and Werner illuminate the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Deep in a Derbyshire valley live two girls, twins, so alike that even their family can't tell them apart. But tragedy is waiting. When the valley is sold to be flooded for a huge dam, the villagers are forced to leave their homes and the twins' lives change for ever. Deep secrets are uncovered and desires, love and grief rise to the surface.

Jess is intrigued with her grandmother's life as a buffer girl in a cutlery shop in Sheffield.

Although close to his adoptive parents, James has always wondered about his natural mother. Armed with only a small stone and a note scribbled on the back of an envelope as clues to her identity, James sets off to find his past.

The tale of Ned Kelly told as never before. Readers will enjoy not only the tale of the Kelly Gang and those who sought to imprison them but the faithful recreation of historical landscape on which this most amazing of stories was played out. Beautiful full colour illustrations bring the story to life and the addition of period newspaper clips make this a valuable study for readers of all ages with an interest in bushrangers or Australian history.

In graphic novel format, the truth about the assault on Gallipoli in 1915 is revealed. Rather than being a botched attack, planned by indifferent British generals, the Gallipoli campaign was carefully thought out and included an amphibious attack on the beach by ANZAC officers.

The little-known story of Reg Saunders, the first indigenous Australian to become an officer in the Army. He survived the World War II battlefields in the Middle East, North Africa, Greece, Crete and New Guinea, and excelled as a military leader. Find out how war transformed a determined young man, born in 1920 from country Victoria, into a war hero. Reg went on to serve with distinction in the Korean War and become a pioneering figure for indigenous rights. He died in 1990. A graphic novel.

Even though he's dead, William is still full of surprises. Get the inside story from his secret diary and the news of the day from the Shakespearean Sun. Be amazed as the curtain is raised on Shakespeare's most dramatic acts.

Cinderella is about a girl who was bullied; Stepsister is about the bully. We all root for the victims, we want to see them triumph. But what about the bullies? Is there hope for them? Can a mean girl change? Can she find her own happily ever after? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Sixteen-year-old Jake Livingston sees dead people. Jake can't decide what's worse: being a medium, forced to watch the dead play out their last living moments on a loop, or being at the mercy of racist teachers as one of the few Black students at St Clair Prep. Both are a living nightmare. And now life as a medium is getting worse, as a powerful, vengeful ghost targets Jake, High school has become a different kind of survival game - one Jake is not sure he can win. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

When fourteen year old Lukas de Boodt is orphaned, his uncle takes him as an apprentice in Prague, a refuge for Europe's greatest alchemists and natural philosophers. The uncle is court physician to the reclusive, unstable Emperor, and also curator of his bizarre Cabinet of Curiosities, four halls full of wonders and scientific marvels. When Lucas learns of a sinister plot, his life is in great danger.

Locked doors, high prison walls and barbed wire are formidable enough obstacles but many escaping prisoners also face savage dogs and armed guards who shoot to kill. From Alcatraz to Devil's Island, this book tells the extraordinary tales of men who risked their lives for their freedom.

A gripping collection of true stories of exploration and danger over the icy wastelands of Antarctica. Includes the fated expedition of Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton's epic trek across the snow to save his crew trapped in the polar ice. A great read and ideal for reluctant readers.

Thirteen thrilling true stories of courage and heroism. From firefighters battling a blazing nuclear reactor to one housewife's brave defiance of the Gestapo, this book contains inspiring tales of extraordinary courage from everyday people.

Short stories examining the mysteries, misconceptions, tragedies and the personal costs of the First World War. A well-written book giving young readers a sense of the past in the context of one of the bloodiest battles ever fought. A great read and ideal for reluctant readers.

Epic naval encounters between titanic warships, monumental battles involving hundreds of thousands of men and duels between lone snipers facing almost certain death. Dramatic and real life tales examine the tragedies and personal costs of the Second World War. For those who survived, it would remain the most intense and vivid experience of their lives.

From shark attacks and blazing airships to exploding spacecraft and sinking submarines, these are real life stories of people who have stared death in the face and lived to tell the tale.

This book recounts some of the most heroic, devastating and pivotal moments of World Wars l and ll. Stories range from those of the soldiers, sailors and airmen on the front line to those who faced the day-to-day hardships of life on the home front.

A spine-tingling collection of true stories exploring the supernatural world of spooks and spirits. Contains the true-life stories of restless souls, including the woman who came back to haunt her killer and encounters in the most haunted house in England. A great read and ideal for reluctant readers.

A collection of true adventure stories on the dizzying peaks of the world's tallest mountain. Contains the true life stories of extreme cold, danger and exploration including the first expedition of Everest and stories of tragedy on the slopes.

Ten thrilling true stories about spies and espionage. Contains tales of stealth and deception, every bit as daring as the fictional escapades of James Bond, but far more deadly as the real life spies risk capture, torture and execution.

Out of his smoke-filled rooms in Baker Street stalks a figure who causes criminals to quake in their boots and rush from their dens of iniquity. This collection of twelve mysteries reveals the clever mind of the brilliant consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, as he works with his sidekick, Dr Watson.

The sudden death of Sir Charles Baskerville is blamed on a fearsome, ghostly hound that has haunted his family for generations. When the famed detective, Sherlock Holmes, is engaged to ensure the safety of the Baskerville heir, Dr Watson is surprised that his friend is dismissive of the matter. Watson is dispatched alone to the wild moors and, in the cold night, a savage and bestial howl can be heard. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

1945, Hiroshima: Ichiro is a teenage boy relaxing at home with his friend Hiro. Moments later they witness the blinding flash as the first nuclear bomb of WWII is dropped. Despite their wounds, the two boys set out to find Hiro's five-year-old sister Keiko in the devastated and blasted landscape. When Hiro is no longer able to continue, Ichiro promises Hiro he will take care of Keiko and get her to safety. But in the chaos, Ichiro loses her after setting off to find help. Seventy years later, this broken promise to his dying friend haunts the old man's fading years. Mizuki, his granddaughter, is determined to help him. As the Japanese legend goes, if you have the patience to fold 1,000 paper cranes, you will find your heart's desire; and it turns out her grandfather has only one more origami crane to fold...

Beck, short for Beethoven, is the son of world famous ex-pianist Ida Magdalena Keverich. A stroke has left her without the ability to play, and so she places all her hopes, expectations, and efforts into turning her son into a musical prodigy. To Beck this has meant a life of emotional and physical neglect. He has no fitting clothes and struggles to find food to feed his younger sister. Beck's mother, the maestro, has a violent temper and Beck often comes to school with bruises and other signs of injury. In meeting August, a girl from his school, who is in many ways his exact opposite, Beck learns that life and music do not have to entail the suffering he is used to. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When the potato blight strikes Ireland, fourteen year old Phyllis McCormack goes into service to help feed her family.

The first book in a trilogy retelling the Greek myth of Medusa. Young Corydon is driven out of his village because of his unusual appearance and put on display as a monster, with other classical beasts, in a travelling freak show.

A whirlwind tour of the globe, seeking out the highest, deepest, widest, thinnest, coolest, scariest, smelliest things on the planet. It's all here!

The world is a very large place and this book concentrates on the really interesting bits to create a snapshot of what each country is like. In this book there are the epic events, amazing animals, hideous histories, funky foods and crazy facts that make the world's 200 countries so fascinating.

It is the 1940s and for Columba and Hilda the war seems a long way away until Ellery appears at their school, unable to speak any English. Curiosity spurs Columba's search for knowledge and understanding counterbalancing Hilda's unquestioning nationalism as the war edges ever closer to Australia's shores. The sudden appearance of the blue cat brings with it an aura of mystery and uncertainty culminating in a dramatic journey to Luna Park.

Samuel is missing on his twelfth birthday, and his sister must delve into family history to find out why.

Three children pool their resources to buy a strange looking board game. As they begin the game, each child disappears inside it.

Eleven little school girls are taken on an unexpected field trip to the gardens and they meet a poet. What follows is inexplicable and a shocking scandal. Will they tell what they know.

For three sisters growing up in Australia in the 1950s, the news is full of the Petrov affair and spies. Their ordinary lives are juxtaposed with their parents' marriage, their father's attempted suicide and the big events of the adult world. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When Theodora is fourteen, her father has a mysterious vision and leaves his family to live with his first wife. Theodora's grandfather is a Holocaust survivor. Complex themes, past and present tensions tell the story of a family falling apart. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Geraldine has a guinea pig thrust upon her by a school acquaintance, to be minded during the holidays. The guinea pig disappears and and that's just the beginning of the problems.

The Word Spy returns to take you on a dazzling journey through the strange and wonderful world of words. Discover hidden and silent languages, the secrets of grammar, dying and newborn words, and crack a code along the way.

Come with the Word Spy on an entertaining journey through the English language. Find out where the alphabet came from and what anagrams stand for. Make up your own palindromes and impress your friends by speaking Pig Latin. Includes cartoons, riddles and special codes to solve along the way. Lots of information that's fun to read.

'I have always known that in another life I was-or will be-a dolphin. I am a pink human, caught in a net of ambition and years of hard work. In a few minutes I will dive into artificially turquoise water waiting at my feet. A minute later I'll either be ecstatic or a failure.'Fifteen-year-old swimming champ Alex Archer has her mind set on one goal-competing in the Olympic Games in Rome. Alex has been training hard for six years--but so has her archrival, Maggie Benton. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An anthology of stories about a range of sports written by two authors from Australia and New Zealand.

15-year-old Tyler's teenage angst turns into outright rebellion when his family leave London for a new life in Yorkshire. Angry with his parents about the upheaval and with only the dog to confide in, Tyler has no idea that a chance meeting with a skinny girl called Spider will lead him into a world he never even knew existed. Spider is living on the streets and Tyler finds himself spinning a tangled web of lies in his efforts to help her escape from this dark and dangerous place.

A sophisticated picture book in which a young artist goes in search of a particular shade of blue, the blue of his dreams.

Zenobia was once a great warrior queen of Syria whose reign reached from Egypt to Turkey. She was courageous. No-one gave her orders. Once she even went to war against the emperor of Rome. When things feel overwhelming for Amina, her mother reminds her to think of Zenobia and be strong. Amina is a Syrian girl caught up in a war that reaches her village. To escape the war she boards a small boat crammed with other refugees. The boat is rickety and the turbulent seas send Amina overboard. In the dark water Amina remembers playing hide and seek with her mother and making dolmas and the journey she had to undertake with her uncle to escape. And she thinks of the brave warrior Zenobia.

The author's life on the island of Corfu with his family and an assortment of animals.