Booklists

Morengaru, a man divided against himself, who is an outcast in the wilderness, must live as an animal. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

'A small town in the middle of Ireland, a string of unexplained deaths and a monster on the loose. Better call in the experts. When Skullduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain drive into Termoncara, they discover a town with a drak past and a people haunted by darker secrets. There is a creature stalking the streets - a creature who delights in cruelty, who feeds off the little hatreds, who grows stronger with every drop of blood spilled. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Grace is a risk taker and never one to say no to a dare. So when she is challenged to walk "the pipe" at a local disused quarry, she accepts the challenge. But partway along the pipe, she has a supernatural experience she just can't explain. No one believes she has been hearing the voice of Hannah since walking the pipe, because Hannah is dead. As Grace sinks deeper into a decades-old local mystery, she herself starts to fear she is becoming a Mad Girl. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Coriolanus Snow from the once powerful and revered family is a poverty stricken and starved college student about to graduate. He has one shot to earn his way into university - win the Hunger Games! He's been given the lowliest tribute from the lowliest district to mentor and try to have survive the games. She needs to kill all 23 other contestants to be the Victor. Triumph means a shot at recovering the Snow legacy and building towards a powerful career, failure is unthinkable. And now Coriolanus is falling for his tribute. What extremes is Coriolanus Snow prepared to go to for his triumph and what price is he prepared to pay. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Emmy Award-winning ABC News chief national correspondent and Nightline co-anchor, Byron Pitts shares the heartbreaking and inspiring stories of six young people who overcame impossible circumstances with extraordinary perseverance. This book is usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

This book is about Gallipoli, the place, and what happened on Gallipoli Beach, from the ANZACS first landing in April to their retreat in December 1915. Images, memorabilia, illustrations and photographs enrich the recount of the months that followed the landing. Includes images that may trouble some readers. A challenging read; usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Beatle normally doesn't go out on Friday the thirteenth but this is an exception. And, then, there's the attractive girl wearing sunglasses and reading a book. Not only is her name Destiny but her surname is McCartney, and since his real name is John Lennon, and for a whole lot of other spooky reasons, it seems destined that they will be together. But Beatle already has a girlfriend. Some language in context. Usually read by student in Years 9,10 or above.

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.

Tessa needs to be perfect, the perfect daughter, with the perfect marks and the perfect body. But, there is a fine line between being in control and being controlled, in Tessa's effort to achieve perfection. Contains mature themes and some language in context. Usually read by student in Years 9,10 or above.

As Celine Rousseau escapes Paris to 1872 New Orleans, she is hoping for escape and a better future. What she gets is attraction to the glitzy underworld and the members of La Cour des Lions. New Orleans is not all it seems and with a serial killer following her footsteps and her heart betraying her head, Celine is entering a world that may be her downfall. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 or above.

Everyone thinks they know what Jacob O'Leary can and can't do, and they're not shy about telling him either. But, no one, not even Jacob, knows what he's truly capable of. When a shocking and mystifying crime leaves his small country town reeling, and fingers start pointing at a young Muslim boy at his school, Jacob is convinced the police have accused the wrong guy. He's determined to prove it, and himself, to everyone. Challenging book; usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Tiny is an eighteen-year-old girl living on the streets of Sydney, running from her small-town past. She finds short-term accommodation at Hope Lane - a shelter for the homeless - where she meets Nola, a high school student on volunteer placement. Both girls share their love of words through the Hope Lane writing group. Can they share their secrets, too? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerising storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her - from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations - and whose story inspires us to do the same. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

What's important is our story, our whole story, including those moments when we feel a little vulnerable . . . Michelle Robinson started life sharing a bedroom with her older brother Craig, in their family's upstairs apartment in her great-aunt's house. Her parents, Fraser and Marian, poured their love and energy into their children. She would go on to become Michelle Obama, the inspirational First Lady of the United States of America. Now adapted for younger readers, with new photographs and a new introduction from Michelle Obama herself, this memoir tells a very personal, and completely inspiring, story of how, through hard work and determination, the girl from the South Side of Chicago built an extraordinary life. Usually read by students inn years 9, 10, or above.

Sixteen year old Rory (Aurora) is at the crossroads in her life. While her gang plans its next move in a racially motivated turf war, Rory refuses to reveal their names and takes the rap for an attack on the local immigrant community. She is sentenced to community care in an aged care facility. There, she meets resident and ex-boxer Jack, an encounter that leads her to Essam, a young migrant boxer, who will challenge her prejudices and force her to address the mistakes of her past. Some violence. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

Gideon always had a plan. His plans include running for class president, leading the yearbook committee and having his choice of colleges. They do not include falling head over heels for his best friend and next-door neighbour, Kyle. Kyle finally feels like he has a handle on life. He has a wonderful girlfriend, a best friend willing to debate the finer points of Lord of the Rings and social acceptance as captain. Then both Ruby and Gideon start acting weird...Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Year Twelve is not off to a good start for Amelia. Art is her world, but her art teacher hates everything she does; her best friend has stopped talking to her; her mother and father may as well be living in separate houses; and her father is slowly forgetting everything. Even Amelia. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The behemoth is the fiercest creature in the British navy. The Darwinists will need it now they are at war with the Austrian Clanker powers. Alek, heir to the Austrian throne, is posing as a commoner while Deryn Sharp, a girl, is posing as a boy in the British Air Service. Despite their different philosophies, the pair unite aboard the airship Leviathan, hoping to end the war. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

This is what happens when your worst enemy, who used to be your best friend, threatens to become your sister. Bindy makes some tough decisions as she faces adolescence and the problems caused by her parents' new relationships. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Based on Matt Okine's award-winning stand-up show, this is a heart-breaking and hilarious story about trying to grow up when everything around you is falling down. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Sixteen year old Carly is interviewing Leah Cartwright for her local history project. Leah resists, determined to tell her own story of a lonely child on an isolated farm, whose only escape is in the world of books. Carly is drawn into the story about Leah's present, past, secrets, an unlikely boy who changes everything, and a rich imagination that rescues her from a grim reality. Includes some violence and adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Trying to understand his haunting nightmares, Dr Trotter returns to Preston, where he grew up, to the watertower, where he played as a child. The mystery lies beneath the surface of the deep, still waters. Dark sequel to 'The Watertower'. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

A translation of the classic, Anglo-Saxon epic of warriors, dragons and monsters composed between the 7th and 10th centuries. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Gareth Hinds' Beowulf is a beautiful graphic novel, with some violent scenarios, remaining true to the classic Norse saga about Beowulf. He tackles a dragon with tragic consequences leaving questions about the real cost of his sacrifice. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In Jharia, India,Valli spends her days picking up coal and fighting with her cousins. Her family won't let her go to school and there's never enough food. When Valli discovers that her 'aunt' is a stranger who was paid to take her, she leaves Jharia and begins a new life, surviving on the streets of Kolkata. A chance encounter with a doctor may change her life but Valli must decide if she trusts enough to accept help. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In 1941, fifteen year old Lina is preparing for art school and looking forward to summer. When the Soviet secret police invade her home and forcibly remove Lina, her mother and brother, they must fight for their lives. They are transported via cattle trucks from Lithuania to remote Siberia in a harrowing, violent journey. It is also a story of incredible courage and strength. Includes violence and cruelty. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Sabine is an eighteen year old caught between two lives. Her life in Wellesey is the almost perfect world, a place of glamorous friends, all you could want and a doting boyfriend. Her other life in Roxbury is less than perfect and here she is considered by many as a rebel, out of place. Every twenty-four hours on the stroke of midnight, Sabine moves between worlds. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Crow was just a baby when she was tied into a boat and pushed out to sea. When she washes up onto a tiny island, there are just 3 clues to her origin; a birthmark in the shape of a feather, a ruby ring and a sea-soaked letter with just a few cryptic words remaining. 12 years later, when a mysterious fire appears across the ocean, Crow starts to wonder who she is and where she came from. Crow will set out on a remarkable treasure hunt, and discover what it truly means to be a family. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

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.

By thirteen, Mariatu had experienced rape, genital mutilation, an unwanted pregnancy and witnessed the horrors of war in Sierra Leone. Both her hands were amputated when she was captured by rebel soldiers. Her honest and unembellished account of her life is inspiring with its hope for a better future and the great love that the survivors share. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Black is...sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renee Watson. Black is... three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds. Black is... Nic Stone's high-class beauty dating a boy her momma would never approve of. Black is... two girls kissing in Justina Ireland's story set in Maryland. Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more -- because there are countless ways to be Black enough. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

The infamous Black Jack Anderson, Australia's most notorious pirate, was a towering black American holed up with his evil-doing gang in the treacherous seas and islands off the south west coast of Australia. The fascinating details of his life and times; his mistresses, the treachery, bloodshed and escapes are as compelling as his personality, with his resourcefulness, power and passion. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The bushfire season of 2019 and 2020 was the most catastrophic on record and the loss of lives, homes, property, habitat and wildlife were unprecedented. ABC journalists were present during these crises and reported information and updates on the growing fires. They gathered the many stories which can help those in the future understand what happened with the hope that lessons can be learned. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

When Farren's father goes missing at sea, all he wants is for his older brother to come home from the war in Gallipoli. But, when Danny returns, he has changed from the person Farren remembers. This is a story of two brothers' struggle to make their way in a difficult world. Mature themes and very strong language used in context throughout. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An intense, electromagnetic pulse strikes earth, grinding the world to a halt. Holly wakes in the wreckage of a smashed car, next to her unconscious older brother. She sets out on a dangerous and violent quest to bring order to a world gone mad. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

BLAKWORK is a powerful collection of memoir, reportage, fiction, satire and critique through which the themes of great loss and the desire for a different future, emerge. Through her innovative and powerful poetic voice, Whittaker merges her own personal experiences with her research into Australian history and political decisions, to create a fearless and unsparing portrayal of the Australia presented through other interpretations; a portrayal that challenges the readers' understanding and invites them to rethink the identity and place projected onto the traditional custodians of the land. Usually read by students in year 9, 10 and 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.

Saba and her brother, Lugh, have spent their whole lives in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. When a monster sandstorm and four cloaked horsemen arrive, Lugh is captured and Saba embarks on an epic quest, in the lawless, ugly world outside Silverlake, to get him back. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In 2012, Combat Engineer Curtis McGrath was serving in the Australian Army in Afghanistan when, in the line of duty, he stepped on a land mine. Just months later, Curtis was up and walking on prosthetic legs, motivated by the opportunity to march with his unit in their welcome-home ceremony. Kayaking gave him a new sense of purpose and a year later, Curtis captained the Australian team at the inaugural Invictus Games in London, founded by Prince Harry for wounded, injured or ill veterans. Then, within four years of his injury, Curtis won gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Now a ten-time world champion gold medallist, Curtis is passionate about the power of sport to transform lives, he's ready at last to share his extraordinary story, and how he has approached every setback and challenge with courage, resilience, humour and grit. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

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.

After the shipwreck of the Batavia off Western Australia in 1629, a cabin boy and a soldier were involved in a grisly, notorious mutiny. Most mutineers were hanged but the two men were marooned on the mainland, becoming Australia's first European settlers. No trace of them was ever found. Later European explorers reported seeing Aboriginal Australians with blue eyes. This novel suggests what might have happened in between. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The atmosphere becomes very tense as relationships are tested among a diverse group of talented athletes at a training camp. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A self-help book for teenage girls providing advice about coping with bullying, alcohol, drug use, depression and sexual relations. Some coarse language used by girls to describe their feelings. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Charlie has always lived in Little Town. It's home: the curfew, the Regime, the thugs, the poverty. He knows the rules. Then he meets Pavel. Scrawny and sweary, he is a refugee from Old Country. The wrongest person in the whole place to choose as a friend. But when the bombs come, the rules of Little Town change. Right or wrong: Charlie must choose. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Ten year old Subhi is a Rohingya asylum seeker, born in an Australian permanent detention centre, Life behind the fences is all he has ever known and Subhi needs the stories of others to build memories. One night, Jimmie appears from the other side of the wires, bringing a bone sparrow necklace and a notebook, written by her dead mother. As their tales unfold, Subhi and Jimmie might find a way to freedom but not until each of them has been braver than ever before. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

The Kosa empire roils in tension, on the verge of being torn apart by a proletarian revolution between magic-endowed elites and the superstitious lower class, but seventeen-year-old Toma lives blissfully disconnected from the conflict in the empire with her adoptive family of benevolent undead. When she meets Vanya, a charming commoner branded as a witch by his own neighbors, and the dethroned Tsar Mikhail himself, the unlikely trio bonds over trying to restore Mikhail's magic and protect the empire from the revolutionary leader, Koschei, whose forces have stolen the castle. Vanya has his magic, and Mikhail has his title, but if Toma can't dig deep and find her power in time, all of their lives will be at Koschei's mercy. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In the Dominions, the dead linger, violent and unpredictable, unless a bonesmith severs the ghost from its remains. For bonesmith Wren, becoming a a ghost-fighting warrior is a chance to solidify her place in the noble House of Bone and impress her frequently absent father. But when sabotage causes Wren to fail her qualifying trial, she is banished to the Border Wall, the last line of defense against a wasteland called the Breach where the vicious dead roam unchecked. Determined to reclaim her family's respect, Wren gets her chance when a House of Gold prince is kidnapped and taken beyond the Wall. To prove she has what it takes to be a valkyr, Wren vows to cross the Breach and rescue the prince. But to do so, she's forced into an uneasy alliance with one of the kidnappers - a fierce ironsmith called Julian from the exiled House of Iron, the very people who caused the Breach in the first place -and the House of Bone's sworn enemy. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Malcolm Polstead's life in the pub beside the Thames is safe and happy enough, if uneventful. But during a winter of unceasing rain the forces of science, religion and politics begin to clash, and as the weather rises to a pitch of ferocity, all of Malcolm's certainties are torn asunder. Finding himself linked to a baby by the name of Lyra, Malcolm is forced to undertake the challenge of his life and to make a dangerous journey that will change his and Lyra forever. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Thomas escapes from hypocrisy and domestic violence with wild imaginings and sightings of Jesus. A deeply moving story of a Dutch family, ruled by a violent, bible-wielding father, who survive because of a special child and some very, strong women. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In Tuscany, 1096 AD, Luca sees demons. He keeps quiet about what he sees to avoid another exorcism. He also has dreams that sometimes predict the future. When Luca dreams his father's murder, he vows to stop it coming true. Suzan has dreams too. Consigned with her mute mother to a life in a convent, Suzan has a vision of a boy with an ancient book that holds some inscrutable power. He will take her on an adventure that leads to places beyond their understanding. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

The Book That Made Me is a celebration of the books that influenced some of the most acclaimed authors from Australia and the world. A perfect collection of personal stories from fantastic authors such as Markus Zusak, Jaclyn Moriarty, Shaun Tan, Mal Peet, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Simon French, Fiona Wood, Simmone Howell, Bernard Beckett, Ursula Dubosarsky, Rachael Craw, Sue Lawson, Felicity Castagna, Benjamin Law, Cath Crowley, Kate Constable, James Roy, Alison Croggon, Will Kostakis and Randa Abdel-Fattah. What stories inspired them, and made them who they are today? Read this book and find out! Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

It is 1939 in Nazi Germany. Death has never been busier and will become busier still. Liesel has just buried her brother when she picks up a book, partially hidden in the snow by his graveside. This is her first act of book thievery and the beginning of a love affair with books and words. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jewish man in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up and closed down. A sombre theme that includes some violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Jono, a city-born Indigenous teenager is trying to figure out who he really is. Life in Brisbane hasn't exactly made him feel connected to his Country or community. After graduating, Jono and his friend Jenny score gigs at the Aboriginal Performing Arts Centre and an incredible opportunity comes knocking - interning with a documentary crew. Their mission? To promote a big government mining project in the Queensland desert. The catch? The details are sketchy, and the land is rumoured to be sacred. But who cares? Jono is stoked just to be part of something meaningful. Life takes a turn when they land in Gambari, a tiny rural town far from the city. He's haunted by an eerie omen of death, battling suffocating panic attacks, and even experiencing visions of Wudun - a malevolent spirit from the Dreaming. What's the real story behind the gas mining venture? Are the documentary crew hiding something from Jono? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

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.

Ruby's younger brother has died and her family is torn apart. Ruby feels his death so personally that she has shut herself off from her usual world. When she meets Fox, an idiosyncratic but gentle loner, Ruby is drawn into his special, little community. Fox seems to understand what she's going through and offers her a chance to find peace. But, Ruby discovers that he lives in a terrifying, secretive cult community that is far from the ideal world she expected. Gripping, confronting read. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

It's a hot summer, and life's going all right for Jackson and his family on the Mish. It's almost Christmas, school's out, and he's hanging with his mates, teasing the visiting tourists, avoiding the racist boys in town. Just like every year, Jackson's Aunty and annoying little cousins visit from the city - but this time a mysterious boy with a troubled past comes with them. As their friendship evolves, Jackson must confront the changing shapes of his relationships with his friends, family and community. And he must face his darkest secret - a secret he thought he'd locked away for good. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Ruth Rose, wild stepdaughter of the local preacher, believes he caused the disappearance of Jim Hawkin's father. Investigating the mystery puts both teenagers in mortal danger. A harrowing story with strong language in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Bruno is the naive, nine year old son of the Commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp. Through his covert friendship with Shmuel, a young Jewish boy, Bruno becomes aware of the cruelty and suffering. A touching, disturbing story. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Isabella Swan marries Edward Cullen and honours her commitment to become a vampire. The birth of their child places the Cullen family in great risk from the governing elite. Once again, Bella must look to her best friend, Jacob Black, for an unlikely allegiance which may save the day. Explores the consequences of power, the nature of love and loss, and the self-knowledge that comes from the journey into adulthood. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Karl and his wild young brother are taken in by their aunt, after their mother abandons them. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The city is at war. Southside, the hostiles live in squalor and are hungry to cross the river. Cityside, ISIS is in charge, keeping the hostiles at bay. Nik has spent his life training to join ISIS but, when his college is blown up and his friend kidnapped, he must cross the bridge into hostile territory. Nik and his friends must choose their loyalties in a war that is not as clear as they were brought up to think. Some language in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Bridie starts a new life in a new country, a young, orphaned, Irish girl sadly separated from her brother. Working in the theatre on the Australian goldfields is a very hard life. Bridie finds a way to use her talents and meets her true love. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Based on the adventures of the Bronte sisters, Charlotte and Emily, and their brother, Branwell. Cooped up inside the bleak parsonage in winter, they write adventures for the heroes of their secret worlds. One day, Emily escapes to the moor and finds a mysterious outcast, Heslington, whose story of lost love intrigues her. She resolves to help him. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Sophie, the diarist, is sixteen and lives in a crumbling castle on the tiny island kingdom of Montmaray with her tomboy sister, her nearly perfect cousin and the completely mad King. She loves it. The war woes of Europe rage about them, sometimes terrifyingly touching their lives, as they struggle to survive. With love interests, humour, suspense and secrets. Usually read by students in Years 9,10 or above.

What happens when you mix teenage boys, a fight club and ethnic rivalries? You get war. Romeo Makhlouf knows the rules. Stick with your own kind. Don't dob on your mates or your enemies. Respect the family. But even unwritten rules are made for breaking. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A father keeps his family locked in a time warp, away from the 20th century. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Brontide is a coming of age story about four boys and their lot in life. Recounted through storytelling sessions at their school over a period of five days, these boys chronicle their lives. They are at times demanding, occasionally rude, always funny and unexpectedly profound. The boys like to challenge themselves and the rules, and soon realise that not everything goes to plan. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Josh appears a typical teenager, resentful of his parents' divorce and dad's new girlfriend. Despite a crippling fear of the water, he learns to swim so that he can take part in the Iron Kid Triathlon, Sensitive treatment of mental retardation. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Callie risked everything to try to save her sister Gracie from the Change, but she failed. Now she has to risk everything simply to stay alive in the Zone where the Change is everywhere and nothing is what it seems. Until she stumbles across a secret from her past that might hold the key to defeating the Change. Hunted and alone, she finds refuge in the most unexpected of places, only to find that she is in more danger than ever. This book is usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Set in middle America in the 1950s, Sarah and her father have hired a belligerent dragon of Russian heritage to clear their land. His arrival signals the beginning of a destiny that spirals beyond anyone's control. This story explores race, sexuality, gender stereotypes and how dragon power can be used for good or for evil. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Marisa catches her best friend's boyfriend cheating and, before she knows it, she's got another friend setting up a website for her to catch out love rats for a living. But life starts getting complicated when the boy she is spying on for one friend turns out to be everything she has ever looked for in a guy. To make matters even worse, she is then asked to spy on her ex by his new love interest! How could Marisa ever come out of this unscathed? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Butter is overweight and he knows it. He is unpopular at school and sits alone at lunch. Then he decides to eat himself to death live over the net. Suddenly he is the centre of attention with the coolest group at school - he knows it is only because of his site but he is no longer alone. Will he go through with his dare and will his new found 'friends' let him or make him. Contains mature themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In Zambia, time is running out as Bul-Boo and Madillo try to work out a way to save their friend, Winifred, from a terrifying fate. In desperation, they ask the advice of Ifwafwa, the snake man, who promises to think about the problem. Ifwafwa is wise and has a gift with snakes, but he does not like to hurry and Bul-Boo becomes impatient. Some adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

There are steps that must be done, and once done, another step awaits. The last step, after six years of minute planning by her grandmother, is a bus ride away. In A-ma-ri-lo her baby brother has to be waiting. In her imaginings, he is always waiting. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.