Booklists

A story that features civil rights for women.

Layla Karimi has been cursed by the evil eye. Well, that's what Layla's superstitious grandmother tells her. And Layla reckons it makes sense as she's sort of Australian and sort of Lebanese: a 'halfie' who doesn't really fit into either world. And when all hell breaks loose at the first beach party of the summer, Layla finds herself caught between her friends and the Lebanese kids who call themselves 'the Cedar Army' (of which her cousin Sufia is the Queen Bee). One group has been wrongfully accused and Layla knows the truth that would clear their name. But will she speak up?

AFL at Port Road High is off to a shaky start. The hardest thing to do is organise a bunch of misfits into a cohesive team.

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.

A collection of Wilde's classic stories that include The Selfish Giant and The Happy Prince. The story of the statue of a once pleasure-loving Prince who, with the help of a once selfish swallow, helps the poor and suffering people in their distress.

Haroun's father is the greatest of all storytellers. His magical stories bring laughter to the sad city of Alifbay. One terrible day, everything goes wrong and his father runs out of stories to tell. Haroun is determined to return the storyteller's gift.

When thirteen year old Andrew Ferguson goes to stay in an old house in Ireland, he is immediately plunged into the mysteries of Irish legend.

Called the Moses of her people for leading slaves northward to freedom, Harriet Tubman successfully escaped in her twenties and put herself in constant danger to help other slaves achieve liberty. When the Civil War began, this freedom fighter spied for the Union and became the first American woman to plan and direct a battle.

Harriet's best friend at the ballet academy is suffering from an eating disorder. The ghost of a ballerina who died tragically young attempts to contact the girls to save Marianne from death.

With seemingly impossible escapes and incredible feats of illusion, Harry Houdini lived a life so fantastic that it seems almost too amazing even for fiction. Beyond his on-stage magic, Houdini was an airplane pioneer, movie star and debunker of frauds. One of his greatest tricks was hanging by his ankles, wrapped in a straightjacket, and freeing himself in less than three minutes.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter. It isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son, Albus, must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth - sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

As he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid's motorbike and takes to the skies, leaving Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter knows that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters are not far behind. The protective charm that has kept Harry safe until now is now broken, but he cannot keep hiding. The Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything Harry loves, and to stop him Harry will have to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The final battle must begin - Harry must stand and face his enemy.

When the Quidditch World Cup is disrupted by Voldemort's rampaging supporters and the terrifying Dark Mark appears against the night sky, it is obvious to Harry Potter that, far from weakening, Voldemort is getting stronger. Back at Hogwarts for the fourth year Harry is astonished to be chosen to represent the school in the Triwizard Tournament. The competition is dangerous, the tasks terrifying, and true courage is no guarantee of survival - especially with the Dark Lord's forces on the rise.

In the midst of this battle between good and evil, Harry Potter is in his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Voldemort's power and followers are increasing day-by-day and danger is all around.

Harry and his friends are again pitted against the evil Lord Voldemort. The Order of the Phoenix must protect Harry and take on those who abuse their power in the Ministry of Magic. The bonds of wizardry and friendship are sorely tested.

Any two titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic is the official book of the record-breaking British Library exhibition, a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between Bloomsbury, J.K. Rowling and a team of brilliant curators. This gorgeous book takes readers on a fascinating journey through the subjects studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, from Astronomy and Potions through to Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. Readers will be able to pore over ancient spell books, amazing illuminated scrolls that reveal the secret of the Elixir of Life, vials of dragon's blood, mandrake roots, painted centaurs and a genuine witch's broomstick, in a book that shows J.K. Rowling's magical inventions alongside their cultural and historical forebears.

The only survivor of a light plane crash in the Canadian wilderness, Brian must learn to exist among wild animals and find a way back to civilisation.

Gary Paulsen has used his experience, learning the secrets of survival in the remote northern wilderness, to write the Hatchet novels, in which a man crash lands and has to struggle to stay alive. The true-life experiences behind his books.

Hatshepsut was the eldest daughter of Tuthmosis I, a pharaoh who ruled Egypt. Her mother was Queen Ahmose. Explore the mystery surrounding her life and her reign. You can decide if she was a strong ruling pharaoh or a power-hungry princess.

When Lily Frost's parents move to a country town called Gideon, things are dire. Lily has left her best friend and knows no one. But, someone seems to know her and it isn't exactly welcoming. Lily is thrown into the path of cute local boy, Danny, but he's not giving anything away. It's up to Lily to make sense of the watery footprints on her floor and the cold air that constantly seeps into her bones.

A child begins to receive strange messages and learns about a family legacy.

Life in Germany in 1939 is not safe for 13 year old Max Gruber so he is sent to his Uncle Ferdy in London, only to find himself sent to Australia aboard the famous ship Dunera. Arriving in rural Hay, and housed in an internment camp, he meets local boy Tom. The two new friends become allies, as their lives are affected by the growing conflict in far away Europe.

Find out some of the things being done to create a healthier future for Australia's Indigenous people and to overcome the impacts of past events. Read how health is linked to history, life experiences and the environment, as well as to medical treatment.

Dive into the world of Taylor Swift in this intimate, one of a kind look at her life, lore and legacy. Mega-stars like Taylor Swift don't come around often. She hasn't just shaped music and culture - she's redefined what it means to be an icon in the music industry. A book for both fans and sceptics, who may gain a new appreciation of the icon that is Taylor Swift.

Endurance overcoming grief and the importance of family and friends. Heartland is a recovery centre for horses that have been rescued from neglect and physical cruelty. Amy and her mum try to rescue an abandoned stallion but disaster strikes.

A WWII Japanese airman in the two greatest battles fought on Australian soil, shamed by his capture, faces a dilemma - uphold the honour of his family or risk the life of his young wife? Duty is heavy as a mountain, death as light as a feather. He conceals his true name to protect his family. Suicide is a possibility, but he's drawn away from his military indoctrination by experiences with ordinary Australians, drawn towards living out his own individuality. But the young bride he left behind had vowed she would kill herself if he died. He could write to tell her he lives, but would that reveal his cowardice, shame his family? A tale of the Australian WWII experience, seen through the eyes of this deeply troubled man.

Helen Keller lived in darkness and silence but she dazzled the world with her accomplishments. Find out about the illness that destroyed her sight and hearing, her explosive first meeting with her teacher, her struggle to become the first blind/deaf student ever awarded a degree from Radcliffe College and her life as a writer, lecturer and world traveller.

In eighteenth century Devon, Caleb, travels with his father, living off the earnings from their Punch and Judy show. When his father is wrongly arrested for stealing and transported to the Colonies, Caleb is left alone. After a desperate journey in search of an aunt he's never met, he receives a strange, cold welcome. Then, a body washes up on the nearby beach and Caleb is caught up in a terrifying net of lies and intrigue. Soon, he and his new family are in mortal danger.

When Nishat comes out to her parents, they say she can be anyone she wants - as long as she isn't herself. Because Muslim girls don't like other girls. Nishat doesn't want to hide who she is, but she also doesn't want to lose her relationship with her family. And her life only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flavia is beautiful and charismatic and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flavia and Nishat choose to do henna, even though Flavia is appropriating Nishat's culture. Amidst sabotage and school stress, their lives get more tangled - but Nishat can't quite get rid of her crush on Flavia, and realizes there might be more to her than she realized.

Henry Lawson, one of Australia's most famous writers, was known as the 'Poet of the People', Lawson's writing captures life in the Australian bush and the hardships and everyday lives of ordinary Australians in the 1800s. Lawson's stories and poems are full of the drama and often absurd humour that characterised life in the Australian outback in the early years of our nation.

A graphic re-telling of Shakespeare's classic historical play. Henry, a proud and wilful monarch, defies Rome's ban on divorce to marry the beguiling Anne Boleyn. Despite attempts to sway the Pope by Cardinal Wolsley, England's powerful Lord Chancellor, the Catholic Church plunges into chaos, signalling the beginning of the Church of England. Anne, the new queen, gives birth to a girl who will become England's most famous monarch - Elizabeth I.

Escaping from some bullies, Boy slips into a grand, old gallery full of treasures, paintings and mystery. When he is befriended by a little dog, they venture into a famous Dutch painting and are transported to seventeenth century Holland where the streets are dangerous places for a dog. This wordless picture book is part of the Boy Bear series, which includes The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard and Midsummer Knight.

Australia's great heroes at their most decisive moments.

Celebrate the stories of incredible women from the ancient world in this beautifully illustrated gift book. Featuring powerful retellings of courageous women, including the ruler Cleopatra, Mary Hebraea the first known alchemist and the warrior queen Boudica, this stunning collection of epic stories will get children fascinated by ancient history.

In 1628, Veronica and her brother flee for their lives into the German woods after their father is burned at the stake. At the dawn of the eighteenth century, Scottish maid Katherine is lured into political dissent after her parents are butchered for their beliefs. In present-day Australia, Paisley navigates her way through the burning torches of small-town gossip after her mother's new-age shop comes under scrutiny. A powerful historical novel about three young women caught in the hysteria of their own times.

Before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of professionals worked as 'Human Computers', calculating the flight paths that would enable these historic achievements. Among these were a coterie of bright, talented African-American women. Segregated from their white counterparts, these women used pencil and paper to write the equations that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space. Moving from World War II through NASA's golden age, touching on the civil rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the women'sd rights movement, 'Hidden Figures' interweaves a rich history of mankind's greatest adventure with the intimate stories of five courageous women whose work forever changed the world.

Vicky was the daughter of a great warrior, Kathleen, who had escaped the clutches of the queen. She was protected by gargoyles and the people who loved her mother. After an unexpected turn, she needs the help of those people more than ever. She is sent to the school her mother went to: Corvis, and finds new friends and secrets to her past. Can she repair the wrongs that have been made in the past and will she have to do it all alone?

Death Lord Arawn has stolen the black sword Dyrnwyn, the most powerful weapon in the kingdom. At the request of Prince Gwydion, Taran rallies old and new friends to raise an army to march against Arawn's terrible warriors. Together, they must battle through a frozen wasteland to Mount Dragon, where a deadly confrontation awaits and Taran's true destiny will at last be fulfilled.

Tiria Wildlough is an otter maid touched by the paw of Destiny. Her tale is an adventure which takes her from Redwall Abbey, across the wild Western sea to the mysterious Green Isle. There she will fulfil an ancient prophesy.

On the run from the redcoats, the two young highwaymen, Will and Bess, find themselves in Scotland, blamed for a murder they did not commit. They are captured by smugglers and become embroiled in religious hatred and revenge that goes back for generations. Will and Bess will have to make decisions and choices that will test their courage to the limit.

William de Lacy, the high born son of a gentleman, is on the run for stealing money and a horse. These are hanging offences and Will and the mysterious Bess must be resourceful and brave enough to survive an eighteenth century highwayman's life.

A classic adventure and tragic love story told in verse, about the betrayal of heroic Bess and her dashing highwayman.

Fourteen year old Joan Skraggs yearns for real life and true love, just like the heroines in her beloved novels. But, there is little hope for adventure, beauty or art on a farm in Pennsylvania, where the work never ends, looking after her father and three brothers. When she can't take any more, Joan escapes to the city, finding a kitchen maid's position in a Jewish household. Here, she grows as a person and her strict religious upbringing is tempered, as she learns more about her employers' beliefs and world events.

'Once upon a time, in a dark city far away, there lived a boy called Walter, who had nothing but his name to call his own...' The handwritten book, with its strangely vivid illustrations, has been hidden in the old house for a long, long time. Tonight, four kids and their teacher will find it. Tonight, at last, the haunting story of Walter and the mysterious, tragic girl called Sparrow will be read - right to the very end...

Cricket is a worldwide sport, which is even played on ice. Discover where it began, how the rules were created, who was the man behind the famous Lords ground in England and how Australia was the country to invent one day internationals.

A beautifully illustrated book that tells the story of how fashion has changed and evolved over thousands of years. From animal skins worn by the very first people, to flapper dresses, flares and other modern fashions in the 20th century.

While waiting for the school bus, Mark, Anna, Ben and Little Tracey tell each other stories to pass the time. One of these stories is about Heidi, a mystery daughter of Adolf Hitler in Germany, during World War II.

Hayley tends to her bees and follows the rules in the only world she has ever known. Until she witnesses the impossible: a drip from the ceiling. A drip? It doesn't make sense. Yet she hears it, catches it. Tastes it. Curiosity is a hook. What starts as a drip leads to a lie, a death, a boy, a beast, and too many awful questions.

Can Harry Pigg find and save Santa before it's too late. Why would anyone want to kidnap such a great guy.

In this classic story, hobbits are small but heroic people who live in The Shire in Middle Earth. Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who lives in Bag End, goes on a quest with the wizard, Gandalf.

A story about the relationships between young people and their parents in a seaside community. It's about starting high school, first love and difficult sisters.

Stanley is not surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Detention Centre. Nor is he surprised when he is told that his daily labour is to dig a hole, five foot wide and five foot deep, and report anything he finds in it.

Morrigan Crow and her friends have survived their first year as proud scholars of the elite Wundrous Society, helped bring down the nefarious Ghastly Market, and proven themselves loyal to Unit 919. Now Morrigan faces a new, exciting challenge: to master the mysterious Wretched Arts of the Accomplished Wundersmith, and control the power that threatens to consume her. But a strange and frightening illness has taken hold of Nevermoor, turning infected Wunimals into mindless, vicious unnimals on the hunt. As victims of the Hollowpox multiply, panic spreads. And with the city she loves in a state of fear, Morrigan quickly realises it's up to her to find a cure for the Hollowpox, even if it will put her - and everyone in Nevermoor - in more danger than she ever imagined.

Everyone wants a safe place, a place to share with people they love and to call home. Torn from everything they know and love, a young boy and his family struggle to survive the harsh realities of living life as refugees. A harrowing read for refugees from other lands, a disturbingly thought-provoking read for those of us who have always lived in peace and with plenty.

At thirteen, Koly enters a traditional Indian, arranged marriage and is widowed in months. She is imprisoned in her husband's home until abandoned to spend her days in worship with other widows. Koly discovers opportunities and savage crimes among those who would help her and those who would exploit her.

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

When a plane crash-lands in the arctic, eight young survivors step from the wreckage expecting to see nothing but ice and snow. Instead they find themselves lost in a strange jungle with no way to get home and little hope of rescue. Food is running out. Water is scarce. And the jungle is full of threats unlike anything the survivors have ever seen before- from razor-beaked shredder birds to carnivorous vines and much, much worse. With danger at every turn, these eight kids must learn to work together to survive. But cliques and rivalries threaten to tear them apart. And not everyone will make it out of the jungle alive.

A novel set in Viking Britain. Beorn, a fugitive from Iceland, is adopted by a powerful Viking warrior.

Short stories with twisted endings and horror themes including Bath night, Killer camera, Light moves, The night bus, Harriet's horrible dream, Scared, A career in computer games, The man with the yellow face and The monkey's ear.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Step back to an awfully ancient time when pharaohs were phoul, servants suffered and everyone believed in an awesome afterlife. Discover the dire details of mummy-making, the truth about Tutankhamun and his creepy curse and find out why people worshipped a dung beetle. With a bold, accessible new look, these bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Deary fans.

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.

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

Discover 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.

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.

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

Discover all the foul facts about 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Readers can discover all the foul facts about the Terrifying Tudors including who invited Queen Elizabeth I to see his brand-new toilet, what you get when you sew the front of a chicken to the back of a pig and how to catch jail fever if you've never been to prison.

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

Discover all the foul facts about 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A humorous guide to the world of vampires, witches and monsters. What happens to a vampire when he dies? How does somebody become a werewolf? How can you protect yourself from witches? All of these questions and more are answered in this book, which will finally give you all the information you ever wanted to know about ghosts, zombies, monsters and all kinds of creepy-crawly creatures. Full of tips, anecdotes and trivia, and delightfully illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Paul van Loon's book is a fun and fascinating reference book for all fans of scary stories and things that go bump in the night.

In Ferghana, Central Asia, in 102 BC, thirteen year old Kallisto is an excellent horsewoman. One day, while racing her horses in the mountains, Kallisto sees the Chinese army approaching her city. On reaching home, she finds a deserted city, and her favourite horse and others missing. Kallisto is determined to get the horses back, even if this means being challenged to a duel of horsemanship and skill.

It's the summer holidays and thirteen year old Frankie Jones has a dilemma: she can go to London with her mum, but that means seeing Jack again, an old crush who has hurt her in the past; or she can go on a beach holiday with her dad, but that would involve hanging out with Dad's new girlfriend as well. In this pick a path story, you get to make Frankie's decisions for her. Make or break the rules and find romance or heartbreak along the way. When you get to the end you can go back and choose again!

When the tsunami strikes the Japanese coastal town of Omori-wan, the effects are utterly devastating. Three years later, much of what happened on that day is still a mystery and Hotaka finds himself increasingly haunted by memories of his best friend, Takeshi. When strong-willed Sakura initiates a controversial anti-seawall movement, there is danger at every turn for Hotaka and his friends. As the town and its people struggle to rebuild their lives, can Hotaka help Omori-wan look to the future- and can he let go of his past? A powerful and moving story about one boy caught up in the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 2011.

Following the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, Sherlock Holmes is on the case, intent on finding out the truth behind the family's curse and the existence of the terrifying Hound of the Baskervilles. The new heir, Henry Baskerville, has already been warned against claiming his inheritance, will he be the next to fall prey to the family's curse or will Holmes be able to crack the case before there is more death? Based on the most famous of all Holmes' cases this graphic novel captures the terror and suspense surrounding the Hound and the curse that continues to hunt the Baskervilles.

While her friends are enjoying their summer holidays, twelve year old Carol is helping her parents move the grandfather she's never met into a home for people with dementia. At first, Carol avoids prickly Grandpa Serge. But, his crazy stories, about a healing tree, a green-glass lake and the bees that will bring back the rain and end a hundred years drought, begin to fascinate her. As the thin line between magic and reality starts to blur, Carol must decide for herself what is possible and what it means to be true to her roots.

Clovis, Eve and Tom decide to play with a Ouija board in an abandoned house on Halloween night. What they encounter sends them on a race to discover who the ghost is and why it needs their help.

When the Princess and her band of followers are pursued by the Hollow Men, Saul is drawn into their conflict.

Lewis Barnavelt discovers there is a wizard in his family when he comes to live with his Uncle Jonathan. Experimenting with Uncle Jonathan's spells Lewis uncovers the mystery behind the ticking that can be heard throughout the house, sometimes loud sometimes quiet, sometimes slow, sometimes fast. It's an evil clock and it could destroy humankind. It is up to the Barnavelts to find where the clock is hidden in the walls - and stop it. Tick tock, a deadly clock... a terrifying race against time...

Burrow underground with a mole rat, join a brown bear on a fishing expedition, witness a honeybee dance and take flight with a flock of flamingos. Explore the incredible animal kingdom and find out how animals move, communicate, hunt and feed in their natural habitats.

This book will teach you everything you need to know to venture through all the landscapes on Earth as well as through the air, over the seas and under the waves. Soon you'll have no excuses - get out there and explore!

In a world where bees are extinct, the quickest, bravest kids climb fruit trees and pollinate the flowers by hand. All Peony wants to be is a bee - dancing along the high branches and helping her gramps and sister scratch out a living. Life on the farm is a scrabble, but there is enough to eat and a place to sleep, and there is love. Then Peony's mother arrives to take her away from everything she has ever known. Will Peony's grit and quick thinking be enough to keep her safe?

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.

The trials of high school start to feel like modern day witch hunt for Samantha Mather, who has all the wrong connections to Salem's past. To say Sam is unwelcome in Salem would be an understatement. She is the target of the Descendants, a mysterious group of girls whose ancestors were persecuted in the Witch Trials. Complicating her life further is Elijah, an inconveniently handsome resident ghost, and her cute new neighbour, Jaxon. When a centuries old curse is rekindled, Sam finds herself in the centre of it. Can she stop history repeating itself?

Jimmy might be small, but he knows what he wants and that is to be a world champion wrestler. His family are much too busy in their own lives to really hear what Jimmy has to say, and when he sets off on his journey to chase his dreams, it takes a while for people to notice. Jimmy certainly has his share of adventures and learns a lot of hard lessons before he finds his way.

The original splendid classic with detailed historical information and beautiful illustrations. The story of Esmeralda, the dark-eyed gypsy beauty and Quasimodo, the hunchbacked, bell-ringer of Notre-Dame.

Sarah is experiencing prejudice. She resents fitting in with the Aussie ways while honouring her Chinese traditions. Things become really complicated when Sarah starts hearing the voice of a ghost. Contains language that may offend some readers.

Neil is a young gamekeeper. When his boss is mysteriously hurt, Neil is left to look after the woods and pheasants on his own. There have been rumours of a panther on the loose and Neil has to survive nights alone, before the truth is revealed by the light of the hunter's moon.

Harry and his family head out to the country for Uncle Frank's fourth wedding. Family tensions are high and there is mystery about his uncle's experiences in the Vietnam War. Harry also has his own scars and issues to deal with around the death of his brother. A story about finding truth in unlikely places and moving on.

Chester is searching for clues about his father and why he disappeared. But, when he's caught illegally connecting with the Song as he plays his beloved fiddle, Chester is sentenced to death. Only a licensed Songshaper can bend music to their will. Susannah knows the secrets of The Hush, where there is no music, only deadly Echoes that will steal your soul, and she has plans for Chester.