Booklists

Rachel Ettinger and Kyle Bonham led fairly predictable lives until Rachel's jokey picture of Kyle working at the Burger Barn wound up going viral. Suddenly he is insta-famous and everyone on the planet knows about Rachel's silly crush on him... including Kyle. Just as they think their lives couldn't get any more complicated, an innocent photo becomes a whirlwind adventure full of fangirls, haters, and French-fry bouquets that forces them both to questions whether fame -- and love -- are worth the price. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Bod appears to be a very normal boy, except that Bod is short for Nobody Owens, and Mr and Mrs Owens are not his real parents. Since babyhood, he has been raised and educated by ghosts trying to protect him from the mysterious Jack who has already brutally stabbed Bod's whole family. No one is to be trusted. For mature readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Under the streets of London lies a world most people could never dream of. When Richard Mayhew helps a mysterious girl he finds bleeding on the pavement, his boring life changes in an instant. Her name is Door, she's on the run from two assassins in black suits and she comes from London Below. His act of kindness leads him to a place filled with monsters and angels, a Beast in a labyrinth and an Earl who holds Court in a Tube train. It is strangely familiar yet utterly bizarre. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

In Norse Mythology, Gaiman takes the Norse myths and gives them new life; from the genesis of the legendary nine worlds, he delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants, and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people. Gaiman stays true to the myths while vividly reincarnating Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin's son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki, the son of a giant, a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Scarlett has never left the tiny isle of Trisda, pining from afar for the wonder of Caraval, a once-a-year week-long performance where the audience participates in the show. Caraval is Magic. Mystery. Adventure. And for Scarlett and her beloved sister Tella it represents freedom and an escape from their ruthless, abusive father. When the sisters' long-awaited invitations to Caraval finally arrive, it seems their dreams have come true. But no sooner have they arrived than Tella vanishes, kidnapped by the show's mastermind organiser, Legend. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But nonetheless she quickly becomes enmeshed in a dangerous game of love, magic and heartbreak. And real or not, she must find Tella before the game is over, and her sister disappears forever. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When mean, self centred bully Luke meets Guy, he just thinks he's another weirdo to hate, but soon enough Luke finds out that Guy is not quite what he first seems. To begin with, he catches wild snakes with his bare hands and seems to have a way with animals that is just too intriguing for Luke to ignore. But what Luke discovers is that becoming friends with Guy could change his life, and indeed himself, in ways he never would have previously dreamed. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

AJ Flynn is seen as a lost cause but he still manages to get a job in a lawyer's office. In the office records, he finds a key, mysteriously labelled with his name and date of birth. He is determined to find the door that fits the key. An amazing journey back in time not only helps solve the mystery of the key but helps solve a series of crimes, including murder, in Victorian London. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Yann Margoza, a gypsy boy with supernatural gifts, raised by a dwarf, Tetu, is pursued by the sinister, truly-evil Count Kalliovski who holds half the French aristocracy in his power. Yann meets Sidonie, the unloved daughter of the Marquis of Villeduval. Suddenly, all their lives, present, past and future are intertwined against the momentum and violence of the French Revolution. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Soldier Otto Hundebis defies Death but walks a dangerous path. A half beast half man gives him shoes and dice which lead him deep into a web of dark magic and mystery. He meets the beautiful Safire, pure of heart and spirit, the scheming Mistress Jabber and the terrifying Lady of the Nail. He learns the powers of the tinderbox and the wolves, whose master he becomes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Merrick Hilton has done a runner. On his postie bike. With his swag and a need to clear his head before the HSC. He plays his parents and hits the road. But there's no telling how he'll handle life's potholes when things don't go as planned. Thankfully Victor - an old bloke he meets on the road - knows a bit about broken postie bikes, and broken hearts. Will Victor, Merrick, and the dog survive road-kill, the kindness of strangers, a rave, mindless violence and unexpected romance? There's only one way to find out. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Aaron has left school and is starting a job as assistant to a funeral director. Although uncommunicative, Aaron is a willing and capable worker. But, his home life is fraught. Aaron lives at a caravan park and is the sole carer of his guardian, who's on the verge of dementia. And, Aaron is frightened. He walks in his sleep and has nightmares he can't explain and memories he can't recover. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Our home town. Sometimes it feels like the centre of the universe, sometimes it's the bum-end of nowhere. We are her sons and daughters. These are our triumphs and our heartaches, our fears and hopes for a better life. Getting lost, falling in love, pushing boundaries, exploring the world - powerfully honest stories to make you think and feel, from the award-winning author of The Dead I Know and Changing Gear. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Three children find a mysterious set of dishes in an attic which sets off a chain of events from an ancient Welsh drama. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Josie is seventeen and wants to be a journalist. When she wins a competition to write for her favourite magazine it seems her dreams have come true. But as she investigates the celebrity she is interviewing, she uncovers a dark side to the glamour of Hollywood. Will this be the end of her burgeoning career? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Colin is pleased when an old school friend of his father appears in their small New Zealand town, as the man offers his dad a job. It seems, however, that the man has a mysterious hold over Colin's family. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

It's the brightest day of summer and it's dark outside. It's dark in your house, dark in your room, and dark in your heart. You feel like the darkness is going to split you apart. This book deals with issues of grief, suicide and healing. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Emmy is the good one. Not strong-willed like her sister or difficult like her brother, she takes up as little space as possible. While she's acting as her brother's guardian on his return from rehab, she's also expected to keep on top of her schoolwork and keep herself together after a terrible car accident in which she was badly injured. But Emmy has secrets, too. How long before it all falls apart? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Welcome to Castle Cove - a town cursed with missing girls, bad boyfriends, family secrets and some very steep cliffs. Last summer, Alice Ogilvie's basketball-star boyfriends Steve dumped her. Then she disappeared fro five days. Where she went and what happened to her is the biggest mystery in Castle Cove. Or at least it was. Because now, another one of Steve's girlfriends has vanished: Brooke Donovan, Alice's ex-best friend. And it doesn't look like Brooke will be coming back... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Last October, Alice Ogilvie's ex-best friend, Brooke Donovan, was killed - and if it weren't for Alice's unlikely alliance with Iris Adams, and the complete works of Agatha Christie, the wrong person would almost certainly be sitting in prison for the crime. The Castle Cove police aren't exactly great at solving crimes. Which is why, on the night of the annual dance, Alice decides to explore Levy Castle - the site of one of Castle Cove's most infamous deaths. Classic film star Mona Moody died there almost a century ago, and Alice is pretty sure the police got that investigation wrong too. But before she can dig deeper, she walks right into the scene of a new crime: Rebecca Kennedy, on the ground in a pool of blood and another of Alice's ex-friends - Helen Park - standing over her. The Castle Cove police think it's an open and shut case, but Alice and Iris know that to understand the present, sometimes you need to look to the past. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

A troubled girl struggles with a life she doesn't recognise. The boy who poses as her little brother tries to help her unravel the mystery of whether she is possessed, imprisoned or mentally ill. Slowly, the events that led to this terrible trauma, the result of a violent assault, are unravelled as aspects of the harrowing experience are explored. Some very strong language, used in context, may offend some readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A fruitless search is mounted for Grace. Kip, the last person to see her on the beach before her disappearance, may have harmed her or a dark and sinister stranger could be involved. Adult themes with strong and coarse language in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

But when Brougham catches Darcy in the act of collecting letters from locker 89 - out of which she's been running her questionably legal, anonymous relationship advice service - that's exactly what happens. In exchange for keeping her secret, Darcy begrudgingly agrees to become his personal dating coach. The goal? To help him win his ex-girlfriend back. Darcy has good reason to keep her identity secret. If word gets out that she's behind the locker, some things she's not proud of will come to light, and there's a good chance Brooke will never speak to her again. Okay, so all she has to do is help an entitled, bratty, (annoyingly hot) guy win over a girl who's already fallen for him once? What could possibly go wrong? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Eon has been studying the ancient art of Dragon Magic to become an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune. But, he has a dark secret, living a dangerous lie for the chance to become a Dragoneye. When Eon is catapulted into the treacherous world of the Imperial court, he makes a powerful enemy, Lord Ido. Some violence and adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Once she was Eon, a girl disguised as a boy, risking her life for the chance to become a Dragoneye apprentice. Now she is Eona, thrust into the role of her country's saviour. Eona must find the strength to walk a deadly line between truth and justice, friendship and duty, and, most of all, her feelings for the king and Rat Dragoneye. Some violence and adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Harriet and Wilhelmina couldn't be more dissimilar. Harriet has the perfect life - she's dating the perfect girl, has been elected prefect, is the apple of her teachers' eye, and is an overachiever. Will, on the other hand, has gained the ire of her teachers and lands more detentions than she does accolades. But when both girls witness a teacher harass a fellow student, the two form an unlikely partnership to shed light on the many problems of the exclusive Rosemead Grammar. To protect their identities, they create Amelia Westlake, and as they work together they begin to question their distance from each other...Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

17 year old Delilah's crazy life is about to get crazier. Ever since her father took off overseas, she's been struggling to run the family's cafe without him and survive high school. But after a misjudged crush on one of the cool girls, she's become the school punchline. With all that's on her plate she barely has time for her favourite distraction - spying on the beautiful Rosa, who dances flamenco at the tapas bar across the road. Only her best friend Charlie knows how she feels about Rosa, but he has romantic problems of his own. When his plan to win an older woman's heart goes horribly wrong, Del is the only one who can help himl. All this leaves Del grappling with some seriously curly questions. Is it okay to break the law to help a friend? How can a girl tell another girl she likes her without it ending in humiliation and heartbreak? And - the big one - is it ever truly possible to dance in public without falling over? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

In the Kingdom of Visidia, each island has its own unique form of magic. As princess of Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her whole life learning to control the ruling family's dangerous soul magic. Amora is determined to rule fairly and justly, and grows frustrated as her father, the King of Visidia, continues to exclude her from the politics of her future kingdom. She has also spent her entire life preparing for the performance of soul magic that will prove her suitability to rule. But on the night of her performance, Amora loses control of her soul magic and is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with a mysterious pirate, who promises to help her in exchange for Amora's assistance reclaiming his stolen magic. As Amora travels the seas, she learns things in her kingdom are not quite what they seem to be, and it's not just her crown that is in danger, but her entire kingdom. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Rudra is an Indian-Australian boy at a crossroads, poised to step into the world of adulthood and to discover his cultural heritage and how that might truly define him. A wonderful exploration of dual heritage, cultural identity, family and the power of storytelling. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In 1950s Germany, the war is over but, for the resistance, the fight continues. Death camp survivor, Yael, who has the power to skinshift, to change her appearance at will, is on the run after shooting and killing Hitler. But, the truth of what happened is far more complicated and the consequences are deadly. As Yael and her comrades move into enemy territory, trying to turn the tide against the New Order, dark secrets reveal dark truths. Sequel to Wolf by Wolf. Includes violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Experimented on during her time in a concentration camp, Yael has the unique ability to skin shift, to change her appearance at will. Now, ten years on since the Nazis won the war, Yael has just one mission, to kill Hitler. To get close to him, Yael must transform into Adele Wolfe, Germany's most famous female rider, and win the legendary Axis Tour, an epic, long distance motorcycle race from Berlin to Tokyo. Only the strongest and wiliest riders survive. Includes violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

This striking alphabet book shows an Australia with many dimensions. As a country, it has a lot to offer but Australia needs to confront its history and current greed; to stop leaning on old cultural institutions and symbols; and to welcome and tolerate differences. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A woman takes her only child to live in seclusion so that he should be spared the terrible things that happen in life. She cares for him and is happy. But, one moonless night she dies. The art is sombre but highly original. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But, when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Living with anxiety and OCD is enough but when Daisy, her Best and Most Fearless Friend, brings her on a mission to find a fugitive billionaire things are about to get even more complicated. To find Russell Pickett, Aza must enter the world of his geeky, but maybe kind-of-cute son, Davis. But the chances of a first kiss, and maybe even a first love, could send Aza into a spiral of anxiety... A perfect coming-of-age novel filled with love, mystery and Star Wars fan-fiction. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Will Grayson meets Will Grayson. One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two strangers are about to cross paths. From that moment on, their world will collide and lives intertwine. It's not that far from Evanston to Naperville, but Chicago suburbanites Will Grayson and Will Grayson might as well live on different planets. When fate delivers them both to the same surprising crossroads, the Will Graysons find their lives overlapping and hurtling in new and unexpected directions. With a push from friends new and old - including the massive, and massively fabulous, Tiny Cooper, offensive lineman and musical theatre auteur extraordinaire - Will and Will begin building toward respective romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history's most awesome high school musical. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Nicki Greenberg's adaptation of The Great Gatsby brings to life the grand and crumpled dreams of F. Scott Fitzgerald's unforgettable characters. In the exquisitely realised setting of 1920s New York, a throng of fantastical creatures play out the drama, the wry humour and the tragedy of the novel. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Since the death of his sister, Evie, Munro Maddux has been stuck. Flashbacks. Anger. Chest pains. A constant ache in his right hand. And a taunting voice he calls the Coyote. In an act of desperation, Munro heads off on a student exchange to Australia - the country of Evie's dreams. Forced by his new school to join a volunteer program, Munro discovers the Coyote is silenced in one place: Fair Go, an assisted-living residence in Brisbane's west. Munro gets to know his team of residents: designer Bernie; sleeping refugee Shah; would-be wedded couple Blake and Dale; comic creator Iggy; and self-defence tutor Florence. As this unlikely group shows Munro the sights, Munro's notion of what it means to be a big brother begins to change. But the burden Munro carries is not so easily cast aside. Will the Coyote triumph? Or can Munro find the fortitude necessary to mend his heart? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An aeroplane is discovered in the Amazon jungle. Will Jaeger; The Hunter, lead's a team of elite special forces on a desperate race which uncovers secrets and a conspiracy from Nazi Germany during World War Two. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

You know those movies where teenagers have the summer of their lives? This summer is probably not going to be that. Here lies Maisie Martin, dead from embarrassment, aged sixteen. The last thing Maisie Martin thought she'd be doing this summer is entering a beauty pageant. Not when she's spent most of her life hiding her body from everyone. Not when her Dad is AWOL for Christmas and her best friend starts going out with the boy she's always loved. But Maisie's got something to prove. And she's not going to let anything or anyone- including herself- hold her back. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.