Booklists

Challenge Level : K-2 Challenge Level : 3-4 Challenge Level : 5-6 Challenge Level : 7-9 Challenge Level : 9plus

Star This title also appears on the 9plus booklist.

Hash This title is usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

ID Title Author  
7573
Aliens, ghosts and vanishings: strange and possibly true Australian stories
Have you heard these most bizarre tales from around Australia? Did a UFO drag a family's car off the road in the middle of the outback? How did rocks rain from the sky in WA? And what became of the prime minister who went into the surf and was never seen again? Explore the strangest tales, most incredible encounters and creepiest urban legends in Australia's history. Read about the investigations and weigh up the facts, do you believe the official explanations for these weird and wonderful events?
ISBN 9781925324969
Publisher Random House Australia Pty Ltd, 2016
Tarakson, Stella & Morden, Richard (ill)
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587728

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As you like it
Shakespeare's As You Like It can appear bright or sombre in performance: a feast of language and a delight for comic actors; or a risk-taking exploration of gender roles. This updated edition provides an account of what makes this popular play both innocent and dangerous. There is a section on recent critical, stage and film interpretations of the play, an updated reading list and a new appendix on an early court performance of As You Like It in 1599. Mapping the complexities of the play's setting - a no man's land related to both France and England, the edition also includes detailed commentary on its language and an analytical account of performance. The text is usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9780521732505
Series Shakespeare original plays mature reads (15 books)
Publisher Cambridge University Press, 2010
Shakespeare, William & Hattaway, Michael (ed)
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587812
Assassination of Brangwain Spurge, The
The universal understanding is that goblins are blood thirsty, uncivilised monsters, and elves are artistically refined and polite. Be prepared for a confrontational truth as Brangwain Spurge, elfin emissary, is catapulted across the Bonecruel Mountains into the goblin territory of Tenebrion. His mission is to infiltrate and spy on the evil goblin government under the pretence of delivering a gift, and return alive.
ISBN 9780763698225
Publisher Candlewick Press, 2018
Anderson, M.T. & Yelchin, Eugene
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721
Awful end
When both of Eddie's parents catch a disease that makes them turn yellow and smell of hot-water bottles, it's agreed that he should go to stay at Awful End with relatives. Sadly, the relatives are Mad Uncle Jack and Even-Madder Aunt Maud.
ISBN 9780571203543
Series Eddie Dickens series (1 of 3)
Publisher Faber & Faber, 2000
Ardagh, Philip
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5168

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Beautiful mess
Since Ava lost Kelly, things haven't been going so well. Even before she gets thrown out of school for shouting at the principal, there's the simmering rage and all the weird destructive choices. The only thing going right for Ava is her job at Magic Kebab. Which is where she meets Gideon. Skinny, shy, anxious Gideon. A mad poet and collector of vinyl records with an aversion to social media. He lives in his head. She lives in her grief. The only people who can help them move on with their lives are each other. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.
ISBN 9781925498547
Publisher Text Publishing Co, 2017
Christian, Claire
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751053

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Bill Bailey's remarkable guide to happiness
From paddle-boarding down the Thames in a Santa hat, to wild swimming in a glacial river, Bill considers the exhilaration of the outdoors, as well as the quieter pleasures of clearing out your moth-eaten grey t-shirts. He attempts to see beyond the mumbo-jumbo of the wellness industry and aims for the heart of real joy and contentment - and how we can all achieve it. This collection of funny, meditative and thoughtful essays seeks out simplicity and clarity as a corrective to the endless background noise of anxiety-inducing news chatter. Whether it's whooping aloud while cycling through a pine forest, putting pen to paper, or immersing yourself in music, Bill's guide to happiness is an antidote to the frenetic whirl of modern life. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9781529412451
Publisher Quercus Children's Books, 2020
Bailey, Bill & Magee, Joe (ill)
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52769

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Bloodthirsty
Awkward and allergic to the sun, sixteen year old Finbar never gets the girl. When he notices that the female students at his school are obsessed with a vampire romance novel, Finbar seizes the opportunity. He'll become a vampire. Or at least fake it. When he meets the one girl who just might like him for who he really is, he finds that his life as a pseudo-vampire is more complicated than he expected. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.
ISBN 9780732292195
Publisher HarperCollins Australia, 2010
Meaney, Flynn
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660732

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Born a crime
The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime New York Times bestseller about one man's coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.
ISBN 9780385689229
Publisher Hachette Children's Books, 2016
Noah, Trevor
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42791
Boy called Hope, A
Eleven year old Dan Hope has a list of things he wants to come true. He wants his sister, Ninja Grace, to go to university at the North Pole and only come back once a year. He wants his dog, Charles Scalleybones the First, to stop eating the planets from his solar system mobile and throwing them up on the carpet. He want to help Sherlock Holmes solve his most daring mystery yet. But, most of all, he wants his dad to love him.
ISBN 9781409570318
Publisher Usborne Publishing Ltd, 2014
Williamson, Lara
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90432
Brain full of holes, The
Theo Brain is the world's youngest super sleuth and he is on the trail of a missing truck driver who has driven into a mountain tunnel and completely disappeared. Theo lives in Switzerland where holes are going missing from the cheese and cows are starting to fly. Strange creatures appear from alternative universes and Theo is forced to intervene to stop a total outbreak of silliness.
ISBN 9781921272288
Publisher Little Hare Books, 2008
Chatterton, Martin
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6003
Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a main character (almost) as awesome as me
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.
ISBN 9781510726666
Publisher Sky Pony Press, 2017
DiRisio, Carrie & Gear, Linnea (ill)
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9449
Bruno Trask and the dark lady's jewels
In a world where humans live alongside elves, dwarves, werewolves and ogres, Bruno Trask accidentally gets hold of one of the Dark Lady's jewels. He finds himself on the run from the world's most famous, rich and influential Elf. Fast and satirical.
ISBN 9780733614415
Publisher Hodder Headline Australia Pty Ltd, 2002
Pryor, Michael
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61
Bumface
While his irresponsible, actress mother lives a jolly life, Angus is literally left holding the babies, his younger siblings. It's a bit much for an eleven year old. Humour masks the adult themes in this story that is suitable for mature readers.
ISBN 9780140387971
Publisher Puffin Australia, 1998
Gleitzman, Morris
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25272
Curds and whey mystery, The
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.
ISBN 9780007364039
Series Third Pig Detective Agency, The series (3 of 3)
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, UK, 2012
Burke, Bob
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15174
Dead famous: William Shakespeare and his dramatic acts
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.
ISBN 9780439982696
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2004
Donkin, Andrew & Goddard, Clive (ill)
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772330
Dog's purpose, A
This story follows one dog's quest to understand his mission in life when he finds himself reborn as a new puppy after living a short, previous existence. When he is introduced to his new owner, eight year old Ethan, the two are immediately inseparable and Bailey lives an adventurous full life with his boy learning how to be a good dog. However, just when he thinks he has life figured out, he again finds himself reborn as another puppy. Bailey is very confused and wonders - what is his purpose?
ISBN 9781760551452
Publisher Pan MacMillan, 2016
Cameron, W Bruce
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18685
Dogboy
Dogboy is born and abandoned as a gift to the mountains. Raised by a dog, he is shunned by the village he lives in. His extraordinary gifts must be used for him to realise his dreams.
ISBN 9780143003571
Publisher Penguin, 2005
Kelleher, Victor
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9328
Dreadful acts
Eddie Dickens narrowly avoids an explosion, a hot-air balloon and arrest, only to find himself falling for a girl with a face like a camel and into the hands of a murderous gang of escaped convicts.
ISBN 9780571209477
Series Eddie Dickens series (2 of 3)
Publisher Faber & Faber, 2001
Ardagh, Philip
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Eddie Dickens series
Any five 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 of the screen.
Series Eddie Dickens series (3 books)
Ardagh, Philip
No book cover.
579251
Everything all at once: School, heaven, hell, waiting for the bell
A week of high school gossip, dread, embarrassment, loneliness, connections and even love are all collected in this book of short narrative poems. Confessions and conversations cover a large range of events and feelings found in any high school, but the common ground is that everyone is feeling the same things all at once. Unfortunately, no one seems to know it.
ISBN 9781509880034
Publisher Pan MacMillan, 2018
Camden, Steven
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44980

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Eyre affair, The
There is another 1985, where the Crimean war still rages, dodos can be regenerated and everyone is deeply disappointed by the ending of Jane Eyre. Thursday Next, a literary detective without equal, fear or botfriend, is on the trail of the villainous Hades who is kidnapping characters from works of fiction and holding them to ransom. Sophisticated writing and humour, some coarse language. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.
ISBN 9780340820476
Series Thursday Next series (1 of 6)
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton, 2001
Fforde, Jasper
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7733

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Faking it
Things are looking up for Josie Browning. Her boyfriend, James, is crazy about her, and she's scored a writing job at indi. Now the pressure is on for Josie to prove she's got what it takes to help plan indi's launch. Plus, she's battling with flatmates, frenemies and confusing feelings for travel writer Alex. High on the perks at indi, Josie's doing a pretty good job of faking her way in the industry - even though she still hasn't mastered her hair straightener. But when Josie is invited to a media junket, she accidentally sets off a string of lies that threaten to ruin her reputation, love life and career forever. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9780732297060
Publisher Angus & Robertson (HarperCollins), 2015
Tozer, Gabrielle
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15864
Finding Audrey
Following a bullying incident at school, Audrey can't leave the house. She can't even take off her dark glasses inside the house. When her brother's friend, Linus, stumbles into her life, his friendly smile and funny notes gradually entice Audrey outside the house. With therapy and Linus' help, Audrey begins to feel she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Finding her way back to the real world might just be achievable.
ISBN 9780857534590
Publisher Doubleday, 2015
Kinsella, Sophie
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73126

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First among sequels
Literary detective, Thursday Next, finds her Jurisfiction job has been downgraded. However, as this is fiction, jeopardy is never far away. Sherlock Holmes is killed and Miss Marple dies in a narratively inexplicable car accident, thus bringing both their series to an end. And, Thursday receives a death threat, clearly intended for her written self. Sophisticated writing and humour, some coarse language. Usually read by students in Years 9,10 or above.
ISBN 9780340835753
Series Thursday Next series (5 of 6)
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton, 2007
Fforde, Jasper
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1445
First third, The
Bill's traditional Greek grandmother is very ill and leaning on him to resolve some family problems that are worrying her. Bill walks the family tightrope to clear the family of some problems.
ISBN 9780143568179
Publisher Penguin Books Australia, 2013
Kostakis, Will
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653225

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From Twinkle, with love
Aspiring filmmaker and wallflower Twinkle Mehra has stories she wants to tell and universes she wants to explore, if only the world would listen. So when fellow film geek Sahil Roy approaches her to direct a movie for the upcoming Summer Festival, Twinkle is all over it. The chance to publicly showcase her voice as a director? Dream come true. The fact that it gets her closer to longtime crush, Neil Roy-aka Sahil's twin brother? Dream come true x 2. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above. When mystery man 'N' begins emailing her, Twinkle is sure it's Neil, finally ready to begin their happily-ever-after. The only slightly inconvenient problem is that, in the course of movie-making, she's fallen in love with the irresistibly adorkable Sahil. Twinkle soon realizes that resistance is futile: The romance she's got is not the one she scripted. But will it be enough? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.
ISBN 9781473678736
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton, 2018
Menon, Sandhya
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34293

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Good omens
According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner. So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon - both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle - are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9780552176453
Publisher Corgi Books, 1990
Pratchett, Terry & Gaiman, Neil
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12954
Greek gazette
Very funny and historically accurate look at life in ancient Greece, set out in a newspaper layout.
ISBN 9780746027554
Publisher Usborne Publishing Ltd, 1997
Fleming, Fergus & Tomlins, Karen (des.) & Dowsell, Paul (ed.)
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977765

New
Hamlet is not OK
Selby has mastered the art of going unnoticed and seems happy avoiding most school work and friendship dramas in this way. All goes well until her school contacts Selby's parents and they are not happy. With the help of her tutor, Selby finds herself not just reading Hamlet, but trying to help him understand his misery and murderous inclinations.
ISBN 9780143779278
Publisher Penguin, 2023
Spratt, RA
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Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy series
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.
Series Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy series (5 books)
Adams, Douglas
No book cover.
2184

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Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, The
The hilarious saga of a pair of Earth refugees who stumble on the meaning of life after the planet is destroyed. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9780330491198
Series Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy series (1 of 5)
Publisher Pan Macmillan London, 2002
Adams, Douglas
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3644
Ho ho ho mystery, The
Can Harry Pigg find and save Santa before it's too late. Why would anyone want to kidnap such a great guy.
ISBN 9780007364015
Series Third Pig Detective Agency, The series (2 of 3)
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, UK, 2010
Burke, Bob
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Horrible histories series
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.
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Various
No book cover.
42540
Horrible histories: Blitzed Brits
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.
ISBN 9781407103433
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2007
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill) & Sheppard, Kate (ill)
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5589
Horrible histories: Bloody Scotland
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.
ISBN 9780590543408
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 1998
Deary, Terry & Myers, Christopher (ill)
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60487
Horrible histories: Cut-throat Celts
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.
ISBN 9781407139203
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2008
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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6534
Horrible histories: Dark knights and dingy castles
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.
ISBN 9781407111834
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2011
Deary, Terry & Reeve, Philip (ill)
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11133
Horrible histories: England
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.
ISBN 9781407110417
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2009
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (Ill)
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11636
Horrible histories: France
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.
ISBN 9781407111841
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2011
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (Ill)
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126294
Horrible histories: Incredible Incas
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.
ISBN 9781407104270
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic Australia, 2008
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill) & Reeve, Philip (ill)
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60780
Horrible histories: Ireland
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.
ISBN 9780439014366
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2000
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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2915
Horrible histories: Knights
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.
ISBN 9780439955775
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2006
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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7064
Horrible histories: Loathsome London
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.
ISBN 9780439959001
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2005
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (Ill)
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149505
Horrible histories: Measly middle ages
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.
ISBN 9780439944014
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2007
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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22426
Horrible histories: Pirates
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.
ISBN 9781407164335
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2016
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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2677
Horrible histories: Plague and peril
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.
ISBN 9781407109565
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2009
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (Ill)
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79391
Horrible histories: Rotten rulers
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.
ISBN 9781407111902
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2011
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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40582
Horrible histories: Rowdy revolutions
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.
ISBN 9781407111919
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2011
Deary, Terry & Reeve, Philip (ill)
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72744
Horrible histories: Ruthless Romans
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.
ISBN 9781407104249
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2009
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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3807
Horrible histories: savage stone age
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.
ISBN 9781407139227
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2014
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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127356
Horrible histories: Slimy Stuarts
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.
ISBN 9780590134828
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 1996
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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122129
Horrible histories: Smashing Saxons
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.
ISBN 9780439012713
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2000
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (Ill)
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126160
Horrible histories: Stormin' Normans
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.
ISBN 9781407104300
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2007
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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5588
Horrible histories: Terrible Tudors
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.
ISBN 9780439977050
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic Australia, 1993
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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10821
Horrible histories: The 20th century
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.
ISBN 9781407111926
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2011
Deary, Terry & Reeve, Phiilip (ill)
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636
Horrible histories: The angry Aztecs
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.
ISBN 9781407104256
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2008
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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720
Horrible histories: The awesome Egyptians
This book is packed with quizzes, facts and ghastly details of the lives, habits and customs of the ancient Egyptians.
ISBN 9780439944038
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2007
Deary, Terry & Hepplewhite, Peter & Brown, Martin (ill)
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1805
Horrible histories: The frightful first World War and the woeful Second World War
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.
ISBN 9780439973311
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic Australia, 2003
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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5586
Horrible histories: The gorgeous Georgians
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.
ISBN 9781407104195
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2007
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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2040
Horrible histories: The groovy Greeks
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.
ISBN 9780590132473
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 1995
Topics / Year 6 easy reads /
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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3705
Horrible histories: The rotten Romans
Life in ancient Rome from Nero to Boudicca includes gory games, rotten recipes and lots of frightening facts.
ISBN 9780590031523
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 1997
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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11401
Horrible histories: The USA
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.
ISBN 9781407111858
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2010
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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4676
Horrible histories: Vicious Vikings
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.
ISBN 9780590498494
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 1998
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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14724
Horrible histories: Vile Victorians
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.
ISBN 9780439944045
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2007
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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2918
Horrible histories: Villianous Victorians
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.
ISBN 9781407104317
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2008
Deary, Terry & Brown, Martin (ill)
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22363
Horrible histories: Wicked words
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.
ISBN 9781407111933
Series Horrible histories series (34 books)
Publisher Scholastic UK, 2011
Deary, Terry & Reeve, Philip (ill)
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How it all blew up
Eighteen-year-old Amir Azadi always knew that coming out to his Muslim family would be messy, but he wasn't expecting it to end in an airport interrogation room. Now, he's telling his side of the story to the stern-faced officer. Amir has to explain why he ran away to Rome (boys, bullies, blackmail) and what he was doing there for a month (dates in the Sistine Chapel, friends who helped him accept who he is, and, of course, drama) . . . all while his mum, dad and little sister are being interrogated in the room next door. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9781471409929
Publisher Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd, 2020
Ahmadi, Arwin
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5194
How to cook children: a grisly recipe book
A witty, tongue in cheek cooking manual for witches, with recipes collected from around the world. Each witch presents her method with kids as an ingredient, lots of word play, and cultural and linguistic humour.
ISBN 9780733323843
Publisher ABC Books, 2008
Howard, Martin & Stimpson, Colin (ill)
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4074
I made lattes for a love god
Elly Pickering has a juicy secret. A secret her PR mum won't let her tell anyone because if the kids at Oldcastle High knew that mega-star Jake Blake (yes, THE Jake Blake, teen sensation and all round heart-throb) was coming to Oldcastle to film his latest movie, they might just explode with excitement. Elly is determined to get on set and to get more than a glimpse of her Hollywood crush. But now thanks to an unfortunate incident involving a car, a red handbag and the paparazzi, it looks like Elly's lost a lot more than her opportunity to be close to Hollywood royalty. She's lost her dignity, her job and her best friend. How can she get everything back to normal?
ISBN 9781742379913
Publisher Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd, 2012
Harmer, Wendy
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Intern, The
Josie Browning dreams of having it all. A stellar academic record, an amazing journalism career, and for her current crush to realise she actually exists. The only problem? Josie can't get through twenty-four hours without embarrassing her sister Kat or her best friend Angel, let alone herself. Josie's luck changes though when she lands an internship at the glossy fashion magazine Sash. A coveted columnist job is up for grabs, but Josie's got some tough competition in the form of two other interns. Battle lines are drawn and Josie quickly learns that the magazine industry is far from easy, especially under the reign of powerful editor, Rae Swanson. From the lows of coffee-fetching and working 10-hour days, to the highs of mingling with celebrities, scoring endless free beauty products (plus falling for her cousin's seriously gorgeous flatmate James) this is one year Josie will never forget. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9780732297053
Publisher Angus & Robertson (HarperCollins), 2014
Tozer, Gabrielle
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5462
Jake Atlas and the hunt for the feathered god
Jake Atlas and his family are on the run. They're on a mission to stop the mysterious People of the Snake from hiding the secret of humankind. But the international police are chasing Jake and his family through one of the jungles of Honduras - one of the most dangerous places in the world. Can they make it out alive and discover the hidden mystery of human kind?
ISBN 9781406377712
Publisher Walker Books, 2018
Jones, Rob Lloyd & Antonsson, Petur (ill)
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15741
Kevin the troll
Kevin, the troll, is crafty and cranky, mysterious and moody and he wants children pie for his seven-hundredth birthday. When trolls and humans make contact, amazing events occur.
ISBN 9780143302698
Publisher Puffin Australia, 2007
MacLeod, Doug
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17120
Knightley & son
Darkus Knightley's father was London's top private detective until he went into a coma four years ago. Now, he has woken up to discover his thirteen year old son has inherited the family talent. With a bestselling book seemingly making people do terrible things, and clues pointing to the involvement of a shadowy organisation known as the Combination, Alan needs the help of his tweed-wearing, brainiac son to investigate.
ISBN 9781408838914
Publisher Bloomsbury, 2014
Gavin, Rohan
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Life of a teenage body-snatcher, The
Thomas Timewell is sixteen, living in England in 1828, where body-snatching is rife, cut-throats are about and terrible novelists are absorbing the lives of wealthy women with nothing better to do. Contains some horror and mature themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9780143203919
Publisher Penguin Books Australia, 2010
MacLeod, Doug
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Life, the universe and everything
After being stranded on prehistoric earth, Ford and Arthur again find themselves travelling through space, this time with the task of saving the galaxy from a kind, family loving race of aliens who just happen to want to kill all other lifeforms. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9788711661505
Series Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy series (3 of 5)
Publisher Pan MacMillan, 1982
Adams, Douglas
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Lost in a good book
Thursday Next, literary detective and registered dodo owner, hears the disturbing news that her husband of one month drowned thirty-eight years ago. Someone, somewhere, sometime is responsible. To find out, Thursday heads back into fiction, where lost Shakespearian manuscripts, narrative loopholes and woolly mammoth migrations await. Sophisticated writing and humour, some coarse language. Usually read by students in Years 9,10 or above.
ISBN 9780142004036
Series Thursday Next series (2 of 6)
Publisher Penguin, 2004
Fforde, Jasper
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Manga Shakespeare series
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.
Series Manga Shakespeare series (9 books)
Shakespeare, William & Appignanesi, Richard (adapt) & Kutsuwada, Chie (ill)
No book cover.
12951
Medieval Messenger, The
'Mystery plague rocks Europe' and 'Beckett kicks bucket' are feature articles in this wonderful newspaper crammed full of historically accurate references. Homestores catalogue, spot the difference competitions and a personal column also included.
ISBN 9780746027493
Publisher Usborne Publishing Ltd, 1996
Fleming, Fergus & Tomlins, Karen (des) & Dowsell, Paul (ed)
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Merchant of Venice, The
One of Shakespeare's greatest and, in recent years, most controversial plays. After borrowing a large sum of money from the Jewish money-lender Shylock, the merchant Antonio faces a devastating credit crunch when his fleet of ships is sunk in a storm. Shylock insists on the small print of his terms and conditions, seeking a literal 'pound of flesh'. Usually read by students in year 9,10, and above.
ISBN 9780955816918
Series Manga Shakespeare series (10 of 9)
Publisher SelfMadeHero, 2009
Shakespeare, William & Appignanesi, Richard (adapt) & Kutsuwada, Chie (ill)
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Merchant of Venice, The
Antonio, a Venetian merchant, complains to his friends of a melancholy that he cannot explain. His friend Bassanio is desperately in need of money to court Portia, a wealthy heiress who lives in the city of Belmont. Bassanio asks Antonio for a loan in order to travel in style to Portia's estate. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.
ISBN 9781107615397
Series Shakespeare original plays mature reads (15 books)
Publisher Cambridge University Press, 2014
Shakespeare, William & Smith, Robert (ed) & Gibson, Rex (ed) & Wienand, Vicki (ed)
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Middle School series
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.
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Various
No book cover.
12693
Middle School: Dog's Best Friend
It's a dog-eat-dog world, and Rafe Khatchadorian is just trying to live in it. Life in middle school is finally starting to seem bearable until Rafe spots his grandmother standing in the free-meal line at the local soup kitchen.To help earn some money for the family, Rafe concocts a brilliant plan, a dog-walking business that soon turns into a huge money-making neighbourhood empire. He'll even have extra cash to buy his own WormHole Deluxe Multi-Platform GameBox. That is, until two terrible twins launch the Great Dog War by sabotaging Rafe's flyers and stealing his customers. Plus, his bratty kid sister Georgia has skipped a grade so now she's in all of Rafe's classes. Throw a kid a bone.
ISBN 9781784753894
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Arrow / Random House, 2016
Patterson, James & Tebbetts, Chris
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36773
Middle school: Get me out of here
After the worst year of his life, Rafe thinks he's it made in seventh grade. He's been accepted to art school and imagines a maths-free zone. But, It's more competitive than he expected and to score big in class, he needs to find a way to turn his boring life into the inspiration for a work of art. But, when his newest mission uncovers family secrets, he has to decide if he's ready to have his world turned upside down.
ISBN 9780316206716
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Little, Brown & Co, 2014
Patterson, James & Tebbutts, Chris
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8112
Middle school: Going bush
It's fair to say that Rafe's recent trip Down Under could not easily be called a success. In Australia, he and his Mom were forced to flee a pack of bloodthirsty zombies after the 'performance piece' by Rafe and The Outsiders traumatised Shark Bay. Yet, when Rafe receives an offer to attend an all-expenses paid campout in the Northern Territory, he takes precisely six seconds to agree.
ISBN 9780143781219
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Random House Australia Pty Ltd, 2016
Patterson, James & Chatterton, Martin (ill)
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4451
Middle school: Hollywood 101
Just when school was at its suckiest, things take a turn for the better when a cool, mysterious new girl shows up. Not only that, she actually wants to be my friend! But, you guessed it, things aren't that simple. And when Hollywood suddenly rolls into Hills Village, things get weird very fast. Somehow, unbelievably, I, Rafe Katchadorian, am in the movie business.
ISBN 9781784756819
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Random House Children's Books, 2016
Patterson, James & Chatterton, Martin
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10988
Middle School: How I got lost in London
When I was told we were going to London to study Living History, I thought they were joking. But, here I am, Rafe Khatchadorian, global jetsetter. Now, all I need to do is find a way of avoiding the school bully, getting Jeanne Galletta to talk to me, and trying not to get lost in London. But, things are never that simple. So, fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight because this could be a very bumpy flight.
ISBN 9780099596653
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Arrow / Random House, 2014
Patterson, James
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7140
Middle School: How I survived bullies, broccoli, and snake hill
Rafe Khatchadorian is ready for a fun summer at camp until he finds out it's a school camp. Luckily, Rafe easily makes friends with his troublemaking cabin mates and bunkmate, a boy nicknamed Booger-Eater, who puts up with endless teasing from the other kids. Rafe soon realises there is more to a person than a nickname.
ISBN 9780316231756
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Little, Brown & Co, 2013
Patterson, James & Tebbetts, Chris (ill)
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35541
Middle School: Just my rotten luck
Rafe heads back to the dreaded Hills Village Middle School, where he's forced to take 'special' classes. He finds himself joining the school's football team, alongside his main tormenter, Miller the Killer. But, Rafe has grand plans for a better year: He decides to start a super-secret art project that's sure to rock the school. Then, if he manages to make a play to save his team, Rafe might have to deal wit something new, popularity.
ISBN 9780316284776
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Little, Brown & Co, 2015
Patterson, James & Tebbetts, Chris (ill)
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3069
Middle School: Million-dollar mess down under
When Rafe becomes the unlikely benefactor of a will, it's not all good news. Sure, he gets another free trip Down Under but he also has to go to school while he's in Sydney. Blergh. And not just any school . . . St Mungo's is the snobbiest of snobby establishments and you can bet your bottom dollar that Rafe won't quite fit in. Chaos ensues and Rafe is, once again, in the middle of a very big mess. Can he tidy this one up, or will he be sent packing with another black mark against the Khatchadorian name?
ISBN 9780143784937
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Random House Australia Pty Ltd, 2017
Patterson, James & Chatterton, Martin (ill)
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26699
Middle school: My brother is a big, fat liar
Georgia plans to excel at Hills Village Middle School in all the places her troublemaking brother failed. She's bet him that she'll become one of the most popular girls. But Rafe left a big mark and no one will give Georgia a chance. Rafe has sneakily signed up her band to play at the school dance, and she's terrified to embarrass herself in front of the snooty Princesses who run the school and the boy who's caught her eye. Will she be able to overcome her fears and win her bet with Rafe.
ISBN 9780316207546
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Little, Brown & Co, 2014
Patterson, James
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15771
Middle School: Rafe's Aussie misadventure
Life is finally starting to look up for everyone's favourite troublemaker, Rafe Khatchadorian. No bullying, zero girl dramas and rising grades. And, when Rafe wins an all-expenses-paid trip to Australia, he can't quite believe his luck. That is, until his dreams of beaches, surfer chicks and cuddly koala bears go horribly wrong. Australia isn't exactly the island paradise Rafe imagined. And, nobody mentioned the zombies.
ISBN 9780857986016
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Random House Australia Pty Ltd, 2015
Patterson, James & Chatterton, Martin
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22979
Middle school: Save Rafe
Rafe is heading back to the dreaded Hills Village Middle School, the site of the worst years of his life. Rafe will repeat a year unless he can prove himself on an outdoor survival excursion, complete with dangerous white-water rafting, dizzying rock climbing and military style counsellors. But so far this is easy. Rafe and the rest of the pack of 'delinquent' trainees are forced to cooperate as they prepare for their final test.
ISBN 9780099596394
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Arrow / Random House, 2014
Patterson, James & Tebbetts, Chris
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17902
Middle School: Ultimate showdown
The Khatchadorian kids are an opinionated duo and they don't exactly see eye to eye. But, when wild-card Rafe and mostly-straight-laced Georgia go at it, the only thing more fun than their ranting is getting to join in. Their back-and-forth banter covers a range of topics,from bullying to cafeteria food to school dress codes. There's room for readers to share their own points of view.
ISBN 9780316322119
Series Middle School series (13 books)
Publisher Little, Brown & Co, 2014
Patterson, James
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Midsummer night's dream, A
In one of Shakespeare's funniest, most enduring stories, meddling fairies create unexpected love triangles among a group of teenagers. Hermia is in love with Lysander. Demetrius is in love with Hermia. Helena is in love with Demetrius. Add to the mix Puck, a fairy with a powerful love potion, and chaos is sure to follow. Now everyone's in love with Helena, Hermia is hopping mad, and the fairy queen Titania is in love with a man with a donkey's head! Using the style and visual language of manga, Kate Brown transforms Shakespeare's world into something new and vibrant. It's the perfect introduction to Shakespeare's work for reluctant readers and manga fans alike. Usually read by students in Years 9,10, or above
ISBN 9780810994751
Series Manga Shakespeare series (11 of 9)
Publisher SelfMadeHero, 2008
Shakespeare, William & Appignanesi, Richard (adapt) & Kutsuwada, Chie (ill)
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Midsummer night's dream, A
A Midsummer Night's Dream opens with Theseus and Hippolyta planning their wedding, which takes place in four days. Egeus enters with his daughter, Hermia, and her two suitors, Lysander and Demetrius. Hermia is in love with Lysander, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.
ISBN 9781107615458
Series Shakespeare original plays mature reads (15 books)
Publisher Cambridge University Press, 2014
Shakespeare, William & Buckle, Linda (ed) & Andrews, Richard (ed) & Gibson, Rex (ed)
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Misery guts
Keith's parents have become morose because of the grey, English weather. Keith intends to cheer them up with a trip to tropical, northern Australia.
ISBN 9780330272315
Publisher Pan MacMillan, 1991
Gleitzman, Morris
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Mostly harmless
Arthur Dent hadn't had a day as bad as this since the Earth had been blown up. Depressed and alone, Arthur finally settles on the small planet Lamuella and becomes a sandwich maker. Looking forward to a quiet life, his plans are thrown awry by the unexpected arrival of his daughter. There's nothing worse than a frustrated teenager with a copy of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in their hands. When she runs away - Arthur goes after her determined to save her from the horrors of the universe. After all - he's encountered most of them before... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9781743032244
Series Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy series (5 of 5)
Publisher Pan MacMillan, 1993
Adams, Douglas
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Much ado about nothing
In Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice and Benedick trade insults and fall in love in the sunny Italian court of the Duke -- but the Duke's brother has devious plans to ruin the happy mood. Manga readers can now enjoy the wit and drama of these plays firsthand. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10, or above
ISBN 9780810943230
Series Manga Shakespeare series (13 of 9)
Publisher SelfMadeHero, 2009
Shakespeare, William & Appignanesi, Richard (adapt) & Kutsuwada, Chie (ill)
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Much ado about nothing
Claudio falls in love with Hero and their marriage is agreed upon. Beatrice and Benedick despise love and engage in comic banter. The others plot to make them fall in love with each other, by a trick in which Benedick will overhear his friends talking of Beatrice's supposed secret love for him, and vice versa. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.
ISBN 9781107619890
Series Shakespeare original plays mature reads (15 books)
Publisher Cambridge University Press, 2014
Shakespeare, William & Spencer, Richard (ed) & Gibson, Rex (ed) & Partington, Anthony (ed)
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91222
My name is Will Thompson
Will Thompson is a bit of a misfit. He verges on dyslexia, provokes numerous family problems and has something of a bizarre view of life. He rises to a degree of fame, if not notoriety, when he and two of his friends take on the state to stop the closing of the Goongara Learning Centre.
ISBN 9780143303343
Publisher Penguin, 2008
Newton, Robert
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18567
Octavius O'Malley and the missing mouse
The greatest detective rat of all, Octavius O'Malley, is back. But, this time, it's personal. When Patrick the Magnificent goes missing after picking the lock at the First Rodent Bank, Chief O'Malley sets out to find him. It isn't long before the trail leads to Kurt Remarque, poisoner and disgraced businessrat, the most evil rat ever to stalk the streets of Rodent City.
ISBN 9780207200496
Series Octavius O'Malley series (2 of 3)
Publisher HarperCollins Australia, 2007
Sunderland, Alan & Redlich, Ben (ill)
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125127
Octavius O'Malley and the mystery of the criminal cats
It started with some missing cobblestones and a bump on the head of one of Rodent City's young police rats. But, this time, it's not the mice who are to blame. Even botching the investigation and losing his job can't stop Rodent City's finest detective from pursuing the case.
ISBN 9780207200502
Series Octavius O'Malley series (3 of 3)
Publisher Angus & Robertson (HarperCollins), 2008
Sunderland, Alan & Redlich, Ben (ill)
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18724
Octavius O'Malley and the mystery of the exploding cheese
Someone has just blown up the biggest cheese factory in town and Detective Inspector Octavius O'Malley of the Rodent Police is on the case.
ISBN 9780207200489
Series Octavius O'Malley series (1 of 3)
Publisher Angus & Robertson (HarperCollins), 2006
Sunderland, Alan & Redlich, Ben (ill)
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Octavius O'Malley series
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.
Series Octavius O'Malley series (3 books)
Sunderland, Alan & Redlich, Ben (ill)
No book cover.
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Odd 1s out, The: The first sequel
An original collection of stories from YouTube sensation James Rallison, filled with funny stories including: - The upside of the robot uprising - Questionable pizza toppings - Strange yet completely reasonable fears - Inventions that don't exist, but should
ISBN 9781760973377
Publisher Scholastic Australia, 2020
Rallison, James
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4539

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One of our Thursdays is missing
It is a time of unrest in the BookWorld as all-out genre war is rumbling. Only the diplomatic skills of ace literary detective Thursday Next can avert a devastating genre war. But, a week before the peace talks, where Thursday is to play peacekeeping emissary to the warring factions, she vanishes. Sophisticated writing and humour, some coarse language. Usually read by students in Years 9,10 or above.
ISBN 9780670022526
Series Thursday Next series (6 of 6)
Publisher Penguin USA, 2011
Fforde, Jasper
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660722
Pretty funny
Hayley, or Pig to her school mates, is a curvy, funny girl in a world of skinny, pretty girls. She wants to be a stand up comic, her friends want to find the right mascara and hot boyfriends.
ISBN 9780241374627
Publisher Penguin, 2020
Elliott, Rebecca
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Princess diaries, The
Mia Thermopokis is not herself any more. According to her dad, she is now Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genovia. Mia so does not want to take princess lessons from grandmere or move to Genovia or, worse still, have anyone find out about this princess thing. Life gets a whole lot more yucky when mum starts dating one of Mia's teachers and everyone else has a date except Mia. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.
ISBN 9780330482059
Publisher Pan MacMillan, 2007
Cabot, Meg
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3497
Princess diaries, The: Take two
Nothing is simple for the new princess of Genovia. With her mother dating her Algebra teacher, a secret admirer sending her emails and a bad case of the hots for her friend Lilly's brother, Michael, life as Princess Amelia Mignongette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo can be just as bad as Mia Thermopolis's. Mia might have to sacrifice Michael for someone more appropriate like Prince William, not the biggest sacrifice.
ISBN 9780330482066
Publisher MacMillan, 2000
Cabot, Meg
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Restaurant at the end of the universe, The
If you've done six impossible things this morning, why not round it off with breakfast at Milliways, the Restaurant at the end of the Universe? Which is exactly what Arthur Dent and the crew of the Heart of Gold plan to do. There's just the small matter of escaping the Vogons, avoiding being taken to the most totally evil world in the Galaxy and teaching a space ship how to make a proper cup of tea. And did anyone actually make a reservation? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9781529034530
Series Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy series (2 of 5)
Publisher Pan MacMillan, 1984
Adams, Douglas
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2066
Rhyming boy
Growing up can be problematic but, for Jayden Hayden, life is extremely difficult. He has to cope with a very embarrassing name and a football obsessed mother. When a school father-son day is announced, Jayden's quest for his biological father becomes a puzzle he needs to solve, and quickly.
ISBN 9780702236730
Publisher University of Queensland Press, 2008
Herrick, Steven
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Roman record, The
An historical consultant has helped provide accuracy in this wonderfully funny account of Roman times in newspaper layout.
ISBN 9780746027530
Publisher Usborne Publishing Ltd, 1997
Fleming, Fergus & Tomlins, Karen (des.) & Dowsell, Paul (ed.)
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Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet fall in love at a party. But they come from families which hate each other. They are sure they will not be allowed to marry. Nevertheless, helped by Friar Laurence, they marry in secret instead. Unfortunately, before their wedding night Romeo kills Juliet's cousin in a duel, and in the morning he is forced to leave her. If he ever returns to the city, he will be put to death. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9781107615403
Series Shakespeare original plays mature reads (15 books)
Publisher Cambridge University Press, 2014
Shakespeare, William & Smith, Robert (ed) & Gibson, Rex (ed) & Wienand, Vicki (ed)
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Secret science of magic, The
Sophia is smart, like genius-calculator-brain smart. But there are some things no amount of genius can prepare you for, and the messiness of real life is one of them. When everything she knows is falling apart, how can she crack the puzzle of what to do with her life? Joshua spends his time honing magic tricks and planning how to win Sophia's heart. But when your best trick is making schoolwork disappear, how do you possibly romance a genius? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10, and above.
ISBN 9781760127763
Publisher Hardie Grant Egmont, 2017
Keil, Melissa
Image currently unavailable
Shakespeare original plays mature reads
Any two books from this series may be read as Challenge books and up to five more can be read as personal choice books. Go to the online booklists for the PRC ID of the individual books in this series.
Series Shakespeare original plays mature reads (15 books)
Various
No book cover.
Shakespeare original plays mature reads
Any two books from this series may be read as Challenge books and up to five more can be read as personal choice books. Go to the online booklists for the PRC ID of the individual books in this series.
Series Shakespeare original plays mature reads (15 books)
Various
No book cover.
3749
Slave girl
Exchange student Jenna has managed to get an appointment at New York's coolest hair salon, but when her teacher insists she stays at the boring Metropolitan Museum she stumbles into ancient Egypt.
ISBN 9780732294984
Publisher Angus & Robertson (HarperCollins), 2012
Moses, Alexa
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9330
Snow White in New York
An innovative retelling of a fairy tale set in the jazz and gangster era of New York in the 1920s. Snow White lives in New York, known as the Big Apple. The wicked stepmother, a classy socialite, looks for herself in the Mirror newspaper.
ISBN 9780192722102
Publisher Oxford University Press, 1989
French, Fiona
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So long and thanks for all the fish
There is a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. It's not an easy thing to do and Arthur Dent thinks he's the only human who's been able to master this nifty little trick - until he meets Fenchurch, the girl of his dreams. Fenchurch knows how the world could be made a good and happy place. Unfortunately she's forgotten. Convinced that the secret lies within God's Final Message to His Creation they go in search of it. And in a dramatic break with tradition - actually find it... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.
ISBN 9781743032718
Series Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy series (4 of 5)
Publisher Pan MacMillan, 1984
Adams, Douglas
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Something rotten
Tired of her responsibilities as the Bellman in Jurisfiction, literary sleuth, Thursday Next, packs up her son, Friday, to return to Swindon. Accompanied by the Danish prince, Hamlet, she finds herself coping with outlaw fictioneer, Yorrick Kaine, anti-Danish sentiment, the return of Swindon's patron saint and a seminal croquet tournament. Sophisticated writing and humour, some coarse language. Usually read by students in Years 9,10 or above.
ISBN 9780143035411
Series Thursday Next series (4 of 6)
Publisher Penguin, 2005
Fforde, Jasper
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5714
Song only I can hear, A
Introducing Rob Fitzgerald: thirteen years old and determined to impress the new girl at school, but it's a difficult task for a super-shy kid who is prone to panic attacks that include vomit, and genuine terror that can last all day. An anonymous texter is sending Rob challenges and they might just help. Or not.
ISBN 9781760630836
Publisher Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd, 2018
Jonsberg, Barry
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4156
Spy babies
Imagine finding yourself in the body of a baby, with all the disadvantages that would bring.
ISBN 9780734401052
Publisher Thomas C Lothian Pty Ltd, 2000
Bone, Ian
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846235
Stars in their eyes
Pop culture-obsessed Maisie can't wait to get to her first Fancon. But being a queer, disabled teenager with chronic pain comes with challenges. Can Maisie make it through the day without falling over, falling in love or accidentally inspiring anyone? Maisie has always dreamed of meeting her hero, Kara Bufano, an amputee actor who plays a kick-arse amputee character in her favourite show. Fancon is big and exciting and exhausting. Then she meets Ollie, a cute volunteer who she has a lot in common with. Could this be the start of something, or will her mum, who doesn't seem to know what boundaries are, embarrass her before she and Ollie have a chance?
ISBN 9781760990718
Publisher Fremantle Press, 2021
Walton, Jessica & Aska (ill)
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380
Sticky beak
A sequel to Blabbermouth, this book continues the story of Rowena's chaotic life as a teenager who cannot speak aloud yet converses with the reader with her 'voice'.
ISBN 9780330274067
Publisher Pan MacMillan, 1993
Gleitzman, Morris
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12955
Stone age sentinel
Very funny newspaper full of articles about the stone age. Humour and historical accuracy combined.
ISBN 9780746029596
Publisher Usborne Publishing Ltd, 1998
Fleming, Fergus & Tomlins, Karen (des.) & Dowsell, Paul (ed.)
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11377
Summer of kicks, The
Starrphyre is your average, dorky sixteen year old, with one difference. He has a very weird name, thanks to his hippy parents, a radio sex therapist mum and a bass player dad, from a tragic one-hit-wonder 1980s metal band. All Starrphyre wants is one date with his dream girl, Candace McAllister, but so does every other high school guy. Perhaps starting a band with his video-game obsessed pals will do the trick.
ISBN 9780702253362
Publisher University of Queensland Press, 2015
Hackett, Dave
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6137

Star

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Taming of the shrew, The
Baptista Minola has two daughters that he wants to find husbands for. His younger daughter, Bianca, is sweet and quiet. There are many men who want to marry her. His older daughter, Katharina, is known for being wild and angry, and Baptista is worried no one will marry her. However, Baptista announces that Bianca cannot get married until Katharina gets married. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 & above.
ISBN 9781107616899
Series Shakespeare original plays mature reads (15 books)
Publisher Cambridge University Press, 2014
Shakespeare, William & Brady, Linzy (ed) & Andrews, Richard (ed) & Wienand, Vicki (ed) & Gibson, Rex
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9049
Tears of a friend
Cassie and Claire are best friends and do everything together. But, Claire always likes things her way. Cassie's fed up and now they've fallen out. They must find a way to mend the rift.
ISBN 9780237535254
Series Sharp shades series (8 books)
Publisher Evans Bros, 2008
Kenrick, Joanna
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86600
Terrible times
Eddie, our steadfast hero, is en route to North America aboard a sailing ship, with a cargo hold full of left shoes, the world-famous Dog's Bone Diamond and some very disreputable travelling companions. A mysterious stowaway and some familiar faces from Eddie's past only complicate matters, as does being tied up and set adrift in a leaky rowboat.
ISBN 9780571216222
Series Eddie Dickens series (3 of 3)
Publisher Faber & Faber, 2003
Ardagh, Philip
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35306
Third pig detective agency, The
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.
ISBN 9781906321758
Series Third Pig Detective Agency, The series (1 of 3)
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, UK, 2010
Burke, Bob
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Third Pig Detective Agency, The series
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.
Series Third Pig Detective Agency, The series (3 books)
Burke, Bob
No book cover.
Thursday Next series
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.
Series Thursday Next series (6 books)
Fforde, Jasper
No book cover.
Thursday Next series
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.
Series Thursday Next series (6 books)
Fforde, Jasper
No book cover.
6516
Time travelling with a hamster
My dad died twice. Once when he was thirty nine and again, four years later, when he was twelve. The first time had nothing to do with me. The second time definitely did. When Al Chaudhury discovers his late dad's time machine, he finds that going back to the 1980s requires daring and imagination. It also requires lies, theft, burglary and setting his school on fire. All without losing his pet hamster, Alan Shearer.
ISBN 9780008156312
Publisher HarperCollins Children's Books, 2016
Welford, Ross
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825533
Tokyo ever after
Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in--it isn't easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it's always been Izumi--or Izzy, because "It's easier this way"--and her mom (and her trusty terrier sidekick, Tamagotchi) against the world. But then Izzy discovers a clue to her previously unknown father's identity...and he's none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is literally a princess.
ISBN 9781509899999
Publisher MacMillan, 2021
Jean, Emiko
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422
Truckers
Under the floorboards of the Store is a world of four-inch-tall nomes that humans never see. It is commonly known among these nomes that Arnold Bros. created the Store for them to live in, and he declared: "Everything Under One Roof." Therefore there can be no such thing as Outside. It just makes sense. That is, until the day a group of nomes arrives on a truck, claiming to be from Outside, talking about Day and Night and Snow and other crazy legends. And they soon uncover devastating news: The Store is about to be demolished. It's up to Masklin, one of the Outside nomes, to devise a daring escape plan that will forever change the nomes' vision of the world. . .
ISBN 9780552525954
Publisher Random House Australia Pty Ltd, 1991
Pratchett, Terry
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804756
True colour of a little white lie, The
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.
ISBN 9781460759097
Publisher Angus & Robertson (HarperCollins), 2021
Bergmoser, Gabriel
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14376
Tumble turn
At an embarrassing stage of life, Dominic is burdened with a worrying mother, a father who fancies his teacher, an annoying sister and an embarrasiing friend. Dominic is practising Buddhism and resorts to emailing his estranged uncle for support.
ISBN 9780143300632
Publisher Puffin Australia, 2003
MacLeod, Doug
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6140

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Twelfth night
Duke Orsino of Illyria is in love with Olivia, but his advances are rejected. A shipwrecked Viola arrives on his shores, and with the help of a Captain, disguises herself as a boy, calling herself Cesario, and enters Orsino's service. Orsino takes to Cesario, and sends 'him' to woo Olivia for him. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 & above.
ISBN 9781107565463
Series Shakespeare original plays mature reads (15 books)
Publisher Cambridge University Press, 2017
Shakespeare, William & Story Donno, Elizabeth (ed) & Gay, Penny (ed)
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42593
UFO afloat
If you had a crazy family, a bag of frozen peas, seventy Hawaiian shirts, a tyre-swan, a shoplifter, a social cling-on, a scarily attractive girl, a cool dude, a crazy activity coordinator and a fully volcanic island, you could have written this novel. But, relax, all you need to do is read it.
ISBN 9780143303534
Series UFO series (3 of 3)
Publisher Penguin Books Australia, 2008
Hackett, Dave
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102935
UFO in the USA
Boyfriend Brad is invited to sing in Las Vegas, so they all, including the squabbling siblings, accompany him on another family trip. Dad gets separated from the rest of the family and finds unexpected fame in this hilarious family adventure. Some derogatory language used in context.
ISBN 9780143302933
Series UFO series (2 of 3)
Publisher Puffin USA, 2007
Hackett, Dave
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UFO series
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.
Series UFO series (3 books)
Hackett, Dave
No book cover.
5116
UFO: unavoidable family outing
An adolescent male, his family and his sister's new boyfriend, Brad, set off on a road trip to Queensland. Humour, fighting siblings and mishaps all the way leave you wondering if they will ever make it.
ISBN 9780143302278
Series UFO series (1 of 3)
Publisher Penguin, 2006
Hackett, Dave
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6158

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Universe is expanding and so am I, The
Virginia has fallen out of love with her boyfriend, Froggy, and her brother has been arrested for a crime that the whole family thought was behind them. Virginia is struggling to cope with all this, but then she meets Sebastian. They decide not to talk about anything personal, just to hang out for the summer having fun. But soon they discover that they can't run from the truth forever. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.
ISBN 9781408897041
Publisher Bloomsbury, 2018
Mackler, Carolyn
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12953
Viking invader, The
Wonderful headline stories, amusing advertisements in a crazy newspaper format. Historical accuracy blended with zany humour and colourful illustrations and layout.
ISBN 9780746029572
Publisher Usborne Publishing Ltd, 1997
Fleming, Fergus & Tomlins, Karen (des.) & Dowsell, Paul (ed.)
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53194
Well of lost plots
After two rollicking New York Times bestselling adventures through Western literature, literary detective Thursday Next needs some downtime. She heads for the Well of Lost Plots, where all unpublished books reside. But, Thursday discovers that the Well is a veritable linguistic free-for-all and a murderer is stalking the personnel of Jurisfiction. Sophisticated writing and humour, some coarse language. Usually read by students in Years 9,10 or above.
ISBN 9780143034353
Series Thursday Next series (3 of 6)
Publisher Penguin, 2004
Fforde, Jasper
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5363
Wicked warriors and evil emperors
Imagine that you're made a king at twelve. You have tons of gold, a network of spies and a million soldiers. You also have plenty of enemies. This is the incredible story of Zheng Ying, who in 221BC conquered all the states, unified them under one banner and declared himself the first Emperor. He was brilliant and brutal, and his legend has lived on for thousands of years. Includes cartoon style illustrations.
ISBN 9780143304340
Publisher Penguin Books Australia, 2010
Lloyd, Alison & Denton, Terry (ill)
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462
Wiggy & Boa
Boa is really Boadicea and her grandfather is a retired admiral, who has a chequered past involving pirates.
ISBN 9781863736145
Publisher Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd, 1994
Fienberg, Anna & James, Ann
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6148
Winter's tale, The
King Leontes of Sicilia begs his childhood friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia, to extend his visit to Sicilia. Polixenes protests that he has been away from his kingdom for nine months, but after Leontes's pregnant wife, Hermione, pleads with him he relents and agrees to stay a little longer. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 & above.
ISBN 9780521599559
Series Shakespeare original plays mature reads (15 books)
Publisher Cambridge University Press, 1999
Shakespeare, William & Huddlestone, Elizabeth (ed) & Innes, Sheila (ed)
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