Booklists

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Prior is missing three things: a mother, a father and a voice. Her only companions are the ghouls she sees and her mother's journal, which captured a mind in turmoil. Until she receives a letter from an uncle she's never met, summoning her to his estate - Gallant. But when she arrives, she discovers her uncle is dead and the estate is empty, save for her cousin Matthew and the servants. Gallant is a house of secrets. Olivia searches for answers about her family, her past, she discovers a dark reflection of everything she knew, an ancient realm where ghosts take form and the dark master sits waiting for her... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Ash is used to taking hits on the field for his high school football team - until he takes one that doesn't just impact his body, but his whole reality. It starts with one small shift, but with every game, every hit, Ash finds himself pushed through a succession of universes almost-but-not-really like his own, until the small shifts in reality become significant shifts in Ash's own identity. As Ash experiences life from other perspectives, he starts to question the world he thought he knew, as well as the ones he finds himself catapulted into. For better or worse, the one thing Ash knows is that he's got to find a way to put things back.

Jamie is a sixteen year old maths whiz. His wild, older sister, Summerlee, has dropped out of school. Tensions at home run high. With Jamie's help, Summerlee wins millions in a lottery and cuts all ties with the family. But, money can cause big trouble. When their younger sister is kidnapped for a ransom, Jamie thinks he can use game theory, the strategy of predicting an opponent's actions, to outfox the kidnapper and get Phoebe back. It's a very risky strategy. Mature themes and language. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When sixteen-year-old Yin Mitchell is abducted, the news reverberates through the whole Year Ten class at Balmoral Ladies College. As the hours tick by, the girls know the chance of Yin being found alive is becoming smaller and smaller. Everyone is affected by Yin's disappearance - even scholarship student Chloe, who usually stays out of Balmoral dramas, is drawn into the maelstrom. And when she begins to form an uneasy alliance with Natalia, the queen of Year Ten, things get even more complicated. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Hanna, the commander's pampered daughter, and Nik, the reluctant member of a crime family, are struggling with life aboard the space station. When an elite strike team invades, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home from alien predators. And, there's a malfunction in the station's wormhole. Soon, Hanna and Nik are fighting to survive. The fate of everyone on the Hypatia, and possibly in the known universe, is in their hands. Mature read. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

A thrilling sci-fi in which Noah, and sixty-four members of his class are trapped in a computer simulation called Project Nemesis. There are no rules, except survival. The desperate survivors form into groups as the world rapidly descends into chaos and violence. Min and Noah, former friends, are now adversaries in the most deadly of games, where the consequences are more real than any of them know. Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 and above.

Stacey and Laney are twins - mirror images of each other - and yet they're as different as the sun and moon. Stacey works hard at school, determined to get out of their small town. Laney skips school and sneaks out of the house to meet her boyfriend. But when Laney disappears one night, Stacey can't believe she's just run off without telling her. As the days pass and Laney doesn't return, Stacey starts dreaming of her twin. The dreams are dark and terrifying, difficult to understand and hard to shake, but at least they tell Stacey one key thing - Laney is alive. It's hard for Stacey to know what's real and what's imagined and even harder to know who to trust. All she knows for sure is that Laney needs her help. Stacey is the only one who can find her sister. Will she find her in time? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Brendan finds himself accompanied by a ghost who communicates through his computer, further complicating his adolescent life. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

Orrec discovers he has inherited a power that he cannot control. It is the gift of undoing. His best friend Gry has the gift of calling animals. This is a story of friendship and problem-solving in an exciting and imaginary land. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Is Gilbert real or a ghost? Martin doesn't much care - at least he is helping to distract his brother from his illness. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An intriguing summer adventure where thirteen year old Beau meets wild, irrepressible Lelee, a girl from the sea. Together with Beau's younger sister, they search in their boat for a box believed to contain a fortune, but smugglers are looking too. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Lu and Minyi have always known their places as princesses of the empire - Lu, her father's favourite, is destined to be the first female emperor, while Minyi, her mother's favourite, is resigned to live in her shadow. When their father names their male cousin Set as heir, their lives will never be the same again. Betrayal, manipulation and unlikely alliances plague the royal sisters. While Lu fights to reclaim her birthright, Minyi's hidden powers are awakened. The effect could be cataclysmic. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

In a Victorian farming community, Emmie's mother takes on Bertha to help with the chores and the two girls become friends. Emmie discovers Bertha's terrible secrets and their lives intertwine. Based on true events and containing adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

In Cairo, fifteen year old Aaron makes a living gathering garbage. But, Aaron has dreams of a better life, which includes Rachel who looks after the ponies that pull the stinking garbage carts. Aaron's skill at sorting glass is the only thing that keeps him alive. His mother is dead and his stepfather and stepbrother bully him. Aaron makes a choice that changes his life. Usually read by students in Years 9,10 or above.

Mare Barrow has Silver ability, the power to control lightning. As she makes her escape from Maven, the prince and friend who betrayed her, Mare discovers she is not the only one of her kind. Pursued by Maven, Mare sets out to recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. But, Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. Sequel to The red queen. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In a future world where death and illness have become eliminated by a benevolent AI, the only death which the human race knows comes through the order of Scythes. Highly trained and held to a high moral code, these men and women have few boundaries. However, they are still human and are susceptible to corruption and ego. This is a collection of stories about the various Scythes and their good, bad, and absurd moments as bringers of death.

A collection of stories about young women's experiences and dilemmas growing up as Lebanese Muslims in Australia. Humorous and empathetic insight into one of our diverse cultural groups, explaining customs and breaking down stereotypes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

Australia's gold rushes of the nineteenth century produced tremendous wealth and population growth for the struggling Australian colonies. People from all walks of life made the perilous journey to the goldfields, returning either fabulously wealthy or demoralised and broke. It was a time of huge political, social and cultural change. Includes diaries, journals, letters, official reports, newspaper articles of the time. A challenging read. Usually read by students in Years 9,10 or above.

As an Aztec maiden, Itacate is destined to a lifetime of submission and domestic drudgery until the Spanish invaders come and violently turn her world of savage blood sacrifices and cultural boundaries upside down. Her strength of character, great skill in her father's profession and her love for a young invader help her endure tragedy and hardship in a harsh adult world. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek's throne as Prince of Austria and, finally, fall in love. But, their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war and the crown. And, a potential relationship would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl, and if they weren't technically enemies. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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.

Diverse stories about family ties and personal experiences, written by Australian and Irish authors. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

My name is Johannes and this is the story of how an evil ogre named Hitler swallowed Frau Marks, Helga and I. But we survived. Now we need to learn how to live, and love again. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi face two very different fates: one in the palace, the other on an island prison where women must fight to survive. Serina has spent her whole life preparing to become a Grace - selected to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining example of the perfect woman. But her headstrong and rebellious younger sister has a dangerous secret, and one wrong move could cost both sisters everything. Can Serina fight? And will Nomi win? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

It's school holidays and Gracey is coming home to Cunningham, a remote country town. Everything looks different, even frightening. When her brother, Dougy, finds three aboriginal bones, a chain of events causes Gracey to reconnect with her Aboriginal heritage. Includes coarse language and adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Lucy is in love with Shadow, a mysterious graffiti artist. Ed thought he was in love with Lucy, until she broke his nose. Dylan loves Daisy, but throwing eggs at her probably wasn't the best way to show it. An intense and exhilarating twenty-four hours in the lives of four teenagers on the verge of adulthood and of finding out just who they are, and who they want to be. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

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

It's the first day of Grade Ten, and Winifred is going to reinvent herself. Now that her two best (and only) friends have transferred to a private school, Win must navigate high school on her own. Luckily, she isn't alone for long. In art class, she meets Oscar and April. They don't look or act like the typical teenagers in her town: they're creative, a little rebellious and seem comfortable in their own skin in a way that Win can only dream of. But even though Winifred is breaking out of her shell, there's one secret she can't bear to admit to April and Oscar, or even to herself - and this lie threatens everything. Win needs to face her own truths, but she doesn't need to do it alone. Through the healing power of clandestine sleepovers, op-shopping and zine publishing, Win finds and accepts what it means to be herself. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Within this series of short stories you will never be sure where reality ends and imagination begins. Paths are travelled by a variety of seekers, a boy searches for his true name, a beast discovers hope and a group of pilgrims is led by a song on a ancient journey. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Hester, Theo and Gabrielle have absolutely nothing in common. Their families come from completely different walks of life. But when Gabrielle develops the ability to grow plants from her skin, the three find themselves thrown together as part of the global "Greenfingers" project. Together they have to fight the corporations who want to harness these powers for money and work together to create a Green Rising.

Astrid is popular, clever and an environmental activist. Hiro is rude, resentful, and doesn't see the point of school. When they meet, Hiro's wrangling shopping trolleys and doesn't recognise Astrid, who's wearing a lobster suit to highlight a threatened species. She wants to change the world, he wants to survive it. But, ultimately, both believe that the world needs to be saved from itself. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

A boy writes a story about a symbolic Greylands to explain his mother's mental illness and her eventual death. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

What is it like to grow up Aboriginal in Australia? This anthology, compiled by award-winning author Anita Heiss, attempts to showcase as many diverse voices, experiences and stories as possible in order to answer that question. Each account reveals, to some degree, the impacts of invasion and colonisation - on language, on country, on ways of life, and on how people are treated daily in the community, the education system, the workplace and friendship groups. Accounts from well-known authors and high-profile identities sit alongside newly discovered voices of all ages, with experiences spanning coastal and desert regions, cities and remote communities. All of them speak to the heart - sometimes calling for empathy, oftentimes challenging stereotypes, always demanding respect. This groundbreaking anthology aims to enlighten, inspire and educate about the lives of Aboriginal people in Australia today. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

People of African descent have been in Australia for at least 200 years, having arrived here in many different ways- directly from the continent; via the Caribbean, the Americas and the United Kingdom; making the journey to Australia over one generation, or several. What is it like to grow up African in Australia? This anthology showcases diverse voices, experiences and stories in order to answer that question. Accounts from well-known authors and high-profile cultural and sporting identities sit alongside newly discovered voices of all ages, with experiences spanning regions, cities and generations. All of the pieces call for understanding, oftentimes challenging stereotypes, always demanding respect. Growing Up African aims to defy, question or shed light on the many stereotypes that currently exist about the vibrant extended African community in Australia. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Fifteen year old Khalid isn't too excited about visiting his family in Pakistan but his Mum and Dad want him to go with them. For Khalid, a living nightmare begins. He is kidnapped and forced to go to a place no teenager should ever see, a place where torture and terror are considered normal. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.