Booklists

In 1789, the new colony in Sydney is established. Nanberry is an Aboriginal boy who is raised by Surgeon John White and witnesses the struggles of the colonists to survive in the wilderness. Follow Nanberry and his white brother as they make their way in the world, as well as the young convict woman who becomes a lady in her own right. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In the 1930s, Australian Nancy Wake was a young woman enjoying a bohemian life in Paris. After witnessing an horrific scene of Nazi violence, Nancy decided to help rid Europe of the Nazis. What began as a courier job became a highly successful escape network for Allied soldiers, perfectly camouflaged by Nancy's high-society life in Marseille. A compelling story. Coarse language may offend some readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Mau is the sole survivor of a primitive tribe, wiped out by a terrible natural disaster. He is young but brave and visionary, in this upside-down and dangerous world. He gathers around him, and defends, a strange group, including a feisty young girl and a foul-mouthed parrot. Strong language used in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Year 2471. A new discovery. Those three words thrill my parents - the galaxy's leading archaeologists - but for me, it means another time jump to a different planet. One so big, my friends will be older than my dad when we arrive. And I'll still be seventeen. Thanks, Einstein. Usually read by students in year 9, 10 & above.

A collection of narratives retelling Aboriginal traditions are written by a non-Aboriginal poet who was made a member of Aboriginal language groups in two Australian states. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Unbeknownst to them both, Min and Noah share a terrible secret. Each year, on their birthday, they are murdered by a man in dark sunglasses and a black suit. This has happened every birthday since their tenth. No one will believe them. After all, they're always found safe and sound without injury of any kind. Now, with the world in the path of a killer asteroid, will they be able to put aside their differences and solve the mystery of their own murders before something even more terrible happens? Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 and above.

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

Jamie Riley is on probation and has arrived in desolate Port Barren. It's a mysterious town with a number of dark secrets, a strange assortment of people and a number of unsolved crimes, Jamie's arrival leads to a number of unexplained events, culminating in a heroic journey through the desert, which brings the truth of these ghastly events to light. Includes adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself, Edward Cullen. But, being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire but, as their daring relationship threatens everything, they realise their troubles are just beginning. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Mystical fantasy tapping into Irish culture and music that deals with the interesting concept of time leaking from the real world into the fantasy world and the impact on both. A musical score ends each chapter. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? Everyone knows that Nick and Charlie are the perfect couple - that they're inseparable. But now Nick is leaving for university, and Charlie will be left behind at Sixth Form. Everyone's asking if they're staying together, which is a stupid question - they're "Nick and Charlie" for goodness sake! But as the time to say goodbye gets inevitably closer, both Nick and Charlie question whether their love is strong enough to survive being apart. Or are they delaying the inevitable? Because everyone knows that first loves rarely last forever. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

In 1886 a mysterious travelling circus becomes an international sensation. Open only at night, constructed entirely in black and white, the Cirque des Reves delights all who wander its circular paths and warm themselves at its bonfire. There are contortionists, performing cats, carousels and illusionists - all the trappings of an ordinary circus. But this is no conventional spectacle. Some tents contain clouds, some ice. The circus seems almost to cast a spell over its aficionados, who call themselves the reveurs - the dreamers. And who is the sinister man in the grey suit who watches over it all? Behind the scenes a dangerous game is being played out by two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who, at the behest of their masters, are forced to test the very limits of the imagination - and of love. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

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

Fourteen year old twins, Scott and Jamie, possess extraordinary powers. When Scott is kidnapped and Jamie is framed for murder, they must use the powers to survive. But, when Jamie is catapulted into the past, to face the horror of the Old Ones, he learns that he is one of the five Gatekeepers, standing in the way of eternal chaos. The brothers must fight the evil and win. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Imagine being the only two seventeen-year-olds in a small town. That's life for Kirby Arrow named after the most dissenting judge in Australia's history and her best friend Clancy Lee, would-be musical star. Clancy wants nothing more than to leave town and head for the big smoke, but Kirby is worried: her family has a history of leaving. She hasn't heard from her father since he left when she was a baby. Shouldn't she stay to help her mother with the goat's-milk soap-making business and look after her grandfather? And how could she leave her pet goat, Stanley, her dog Maude, and her cat Marianne? But two things happen that change everything for Kirby. She finds an article in the newspaper about her father, and Iris arrives in town. Iris is beautiful, wears crazy clothes, plays the mandolin, and seems perfect.. Clancy has his heart set on winning over Iris. Trouble is Kirby is also falling in love with Iris...Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Fourteen year old twins, Scott and Jamie, have extraordinary powers. When Jamie, framed for murder, tries to rescue the kidnapped Scott, he is catapulted thousands of years into the past to fight a horrifying and violent battle. As one of the five Gatekeepers, he joins in a seemingly doomed stand against the massed forces of evil and black magic. Not for the faint-hearted. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Lou Bertignac's father cries in secret in the bathroom and her mother hasn't been out of the house properly for years. But, Lou is about to change her life and that of her parents for good, all because of a school project she decides to do about the homeless. Lou meets No, a teenage girl living on the streets, who has disruptive as well as positive effects on the whole family. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 or above.

Three teenagers flee their homes for different reasons and are desperate to get to England. They entrust their lives to a people smuggler and quickly learn that he can't be trusted. Follow each of their journeys as they seek asylum. Based on the true experiences of children caught up in the refugee jungle of Calais and striving to find a place for themselves in the world. Includes adult themes and violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A parallel is drawn between Jose and the other people of East Timor during the invasion by Indonesia, and the spirit of Uncle Adolfo's fighting bird. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Marcie is a real human girl. Almost 18, she has had her fair share of problems and bad decisions. When her imaginary friend Thor reappears after 8 years, Marcie has to work out whether she still needs Thor to guide her now that she is approaching adulthood. And Thor needs to figure out who he is without Marcie to keep him in existence. Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 & above.

It is 1982 and the FBI studies serial killers in order to know how they operate, why they do the things they do and more importantly how to spot the clues and be able to catch them. But how do you study teenage serial killers? Which teenage serial killers are willing to talk to the FBI professionals? That's where teenagers Emma and Travis come into play. Both victims of serial killers in their own ways, they've been asked to take part in a program of interviewing young serial killers and trying to help study them. But what happens when they get caught up in an active case, what happens when they get caught between two serial killers? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

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

Falling in love wasn't part of the plan. Eliza Quan fully expects to be voted the next editor-in-chief of her school paper. She works hard, she respects the facts, and she has the most experience. Len DiMartile is an injured star baseball player who seems to have joined the paper just to have something to do. Naturally, the staff picks Len to be their next leader. Because while they may respect Eliza, they don't particularly like her - but right now, Eliza is not here to be liked. She's here to win. But someone does like Eliza. A lot. Shame it's the boy standing in the way of her becoming editor-in-chief. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Just because she's blind, Parker Grant refuses to be treated differently or badly. They are the Rules and no second chances. Just ask Scott, who broke her heart. When he suddenly reappears in her life, Parker shuns him completely. She has enough on her mind, including dealing with her dad's recent death. But, avoiding her past proves impossible. As Parker learns what really happened, both with Scott and her dad, the more she questions if things are always as they seem. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Life's easier when you stay away from other people. Rose Valentine knows that. But some people are impossible to ignore. Take Theo Lockhart, he's handsome, funny and beyond intriguing. He's a mystery; one that Rose dreams of solving. Then one night the mystery deepens. Usually read by students in year 9, 10 and above.

Ollie causes massive power outages when he comes into contact with electricity. Moritz has an electric heart that keeps him alive. They are best friends, though they can never meet. But no matter how far apart these pen pals are, their letters keep them close. As Ollie and Moritz start to brave the outside world, they meet other teenagers living lives almost as unusual as their own. But before they can feel any real sense of belonging, a new danger threatens to destroy all the progress they've made. Can these teens find their place in a world that might never understand them? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.