Booklists

It's the end of the world. Literally. Time travel is possible, but only forwards. And only a handful of families choose to remain in the 'now', living off the scraps that were left behind. Among these are eighteen-year-old Juliet and the love of her life, Romeo. But things are far from rosy for Jules. Romeo is in a coma and she's estranged from her friends and family, dealing with the very real fallout of their wild romance. Then a handsome time traveller, Ellis, arrives with an important mission that makes Jules question everything she knows about life and love. Can Jules wake Romeo and rewrite her future? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Through annotated illustrations, journals, maps and dreamscapes, Peter Sis shows what life was like for a child, on the Communist side of the Iron Curtain, who believed whatever he was told. As news filtered in from the West, Sis learned about rock'n'roll, blue jeans and read banned books. The Soviet invasion meant this freedom was short-lived but Sis's eyes had been opened. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

The story of Jack McPee, an itinerant station and mine worker, from the Pilbara region of Australia.Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Calwyn, the chantress from 'The singer of all songs', and her friends travel the vast, unforgiving deserts of Merithuros to search the Palace of Cobwebs for enchantment. It will take all their ingenuity and magic to escape the Empire's dreadful secret. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

16 year old Grace hadn't attended school for so long her Nan took her back to her sick, medicated mum. Now in Melbourne, her 6 months ago version of herself of love and responsibility more complex, homeless she plans to change the only thing that matters, her mum's happiness, in a world that has lost it's texture. Deep and heart-warming friendships of others who survive, a piano in the library, a book about courage all help her seize the moment and be brave now that the door in her heart has cracked open. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 or above.

The story is supposed to be over. Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after... So why can't Simon Snow get off the couch? What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light... That's how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West. They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

In this powerful and emotional book, Nobel Peace Prize winner and activist Malala Yousafzai shares various stories of displacement, including her own. Part memoir, part communal storytelling, the book introduces readers to some of the incredible girls Malala has met on her many journeys and lets each tell her story -- girls who have lost their community, relatives and often the only world they've ever known, but have not lost hope, with dreams for a better, safer world. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

When Pearl Harbour is attacked in World War 2, Japanese Americans suddenly find themselves hated and treated as enemies in their own country. Follow the story of 14 Japanese Americans and their families as they try to navigate their way through a society that hates them and internment camps. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

After the death of her mother, Marin was shuffled between families before she eventually landed in the care of her grandfather. Marin is soon to graduate from high school and faces separation from her best friend, Mabel, and Mabel's loving family. There is something missing from Marin's life, and with further tragedy comes even more questions about her connections with others and where she belongs in the world. Marin must come to understand the loneliness she has been living with before she loses those few closest to her. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

The Weather Makers has had a huge impact on our consciousness about climate change. It has changed minds and hearts. This book speaks to the school children who will inherit the new climate which their parents and grandparents have helped to create. Provides scientific examinations and some conclusions about climate change. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Jaime lives in Dalton's Bay with Aunty Dawn and Uncle Bobby. He spends his downtime hanging out with his mates, Dally and Lenny. Jamie's just an Aboriginal kid trying to find his way, but Mark Cassidy and the while lads take every opportunity they can to bully him and his friends. One night, Jamie, Dally and Lenny decide to retaliate...but things don't go as planned and the consequences are devastating. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above. Can Jaime mend his relationships with himself, his friends, his family, and his future?

There are four friends, it is summer, they are on a private island, they have the freedom to come and go as they please... throw in true love and terrible lies and it's hard to distinguish fact from fiction. The truth will leave you cold, and when people ask you about it, make sure you lie. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above,

Priscilla Daalman is training to be a Hollow Warrior - an elite monster hunter charged with killing evil beasts from another universe. But first, she has to deal with the Renegades, a rebellious group of outcasts who have declared war on the warriors and are unleashing deadly beasts across the globe. With everyone under attack by both Renegades and Hollow monsters, Priscilla decides the best way to fight is from within - so she cuts herself off from her girlfriend and family and becomes a spy in the Renegades' base. It's a bold plan - and one that doesn't account for her duplicitous ex-boyfriend, Dominic, being a leader of the rebellious group. As Priscilla struggles to remain undetected in the Renegade base, she realises Dominic has his own agenda - and she's part of it. And in order to stop him - and the Renegades - she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice... Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Seventeen-year-old Priscilla Daalma's entire family are Hollow Warriors - legendary monster hunters charged with killing evil beasts from beyond our universe. She's desperate to live up to that legacy, but she's convinced neither she, nor her superpower - the ability to sense Hollow energy - is up to the task. But when Priscilla attempts a desperate ritual to enhance her abilities, she accidentally triggers a frightening new power: the power to summon monsters from the Hollow itself. Now, Priscilla must protect her loved ones from supernatural monsters, and also from herself. Because if her power gets out, all hell will break loose ... and Priscilla will risk losing everything. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, and above.

Written by one of Australia's most prominent Indigenous voices, Welcome to Country is essential reading for every young Australian. The chapters cover prehistory, post-colonial history, language, kinship, knowledge, art, performance, storytelling, native title, the Stolen Generations, making a rightful place for First Australians and looking to the future for Indigenous Australia. This book is for the new Australian generations and works towards rectifying the wrongs of this country's past. You will quickly appreciate how lucky we are to be the home of the world's oldest continuing civilisation -- which is both diverse and thriving in Australia today.

Sixteen-year-old Quinn Hardwick's having a rough summer. Her beloved grandmother has been put into a home, her dad's gambling addiction has flared back up and now her worst enemy is back in town: Wesley James, former childhood friend - until he ruined her life, that is. So when Wesley is hired to work with her at Tudor Tymes, a medieval England themed restaurant, the last thing Quinn's going to do is forgive and forget. She's determined to remove him from her life and even the score all at once - by getting him fired. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

You know those movies where teenagers have the summer of their lives? This summer is probably not going to be that. Here lies Maisie Martin, dead from embarrassment, aged sixteen. The last thing Maisie Martin thought she'd be doing this summer is entering a beauty pageant. Not when she's spent most of her life hiding her body from everyone. Not when her Dad is AWOL for Christmas and her best friend starts going out with the boy she's always loved. But Maisie's got something to prove. And she's not going to let anything or anyone- including herself- hold her back. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Elizabeth is sixteen and has struggled with her body image for as long as she can remember. She's pretty sure her mother needs help even more than she does. Elizabeth has not only lost 20kg, placing her at an unhealthy weight, she has also lost friends, a boyfriend and the trust of her parents. After a terrible, public incident, she is admitted to Wallingfield, a treatment centre for girls with eating disorders. While at Wallingfield she begins to receive mysterious packages and needs to find out if they're from an admirer or if they are something more sinister. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Eran has grown up to be a passionate citizen, concerned with his community and the world. He can also be an angry young man, something he is sure he inherited from his stern and serious mother. A protest Eran organises takes an ugly turn and a viral video unlocks many secrets which Eran's mother has kept locked away. Eran is certain that his quick and fiery temperament come from his mother, but the truth forces Eran to see beyond what he has inherited and look to who he chooses to be. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10, or above.

In the glittering society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires Inez Olivera has everything except the one thing she really wants; her parents who frequently leave her behind on their adventures to Egypt. Then she receives a terrible letter from her uncle explaining her parents have died in mysterious circumstances. Determined to uncover the truth, Inez sets sail for Egypt bringing only her sketch pads and an ancient ring that her father had sent her. But upon her arrival in Egypt the ring flares with ancient magic and Inez is thrust into a treacherous game that could threaten her life. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Meet Dimple. Her main aim in life is to escape her traditional parents, get to university and begin her plan for tech world domination. Meet Rishi. He's rich, good-looking and a hopeless romantic. His parents think Dimple is the perfect match for him, but she's got other plans...Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works even harder to prove itself in the most unexpected ways. As joyfully refreshing as Rainbow Rowell, Jenny Han and Nicola Yoon, When Dimple Met Rishi is a frothy, funny contemporary romance told from the dual perspectives of two Indian American protagonists. While Dimple is fighting her family traditions, Rishi couldn't be happier to follow in the footsteps of his parents - could sparks fly between this odd couple, or is this matchmaking attempt doomed to fail? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When Michael meets Mina, they are at a rally for refugees, standing on opposite sides. Mina fled Afghanistan with her mother, via a refugee camp, a leaky boat and a detention centre. Michael's parents have founded a new political party called Aussie Values. They want to stop the boats. Mina wants to stop the hate. Michael and Mina will need to overcome their differences to find some common ground. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Adele loves being one of the popular girls at Keziah Christian Academy. She knows the upcoming semester at school will be great with her best friend Delia at her side. Then Delia dumps her for a new girl with more money, and Adele is forced to share a room with Lottie, the school pariah, who doesn't pray and defies teachers' orders. As they share a copy of Jane Eyre, Lottie's gruff exterior and honesty grow on Adele, and together they take on bullies and protect each other from the vindictive and prejudiced teachers. When a boy goes missing on campus, Adele and Lottie must work together to solve the mystery, in the process learning the true meaning of friendship. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The sixties are in full swing and, for sixteen year old Kathy, it's all about miniskirts, the Beatles and her fab new boots. But, the world is rapidly changing, her brother is fighting in the Vietnam War and her best friend is protesting against it. When the chance comes to dance with an entertainment troop in Vietnam, Kathy slips on her boots and leaves her convent school. She soon finds the reality of war is no song and dance. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When Madeleine is shipped off to stay with her eccentric grandmother for the holidays, she expects the usual: politics, early-morning yoga, extreme healthy food, and lots of hard work. Instead, Madeleine tumbles back in time to 1900, where the wealthy Williamson family takes her into their home, Lyrebird Muse. At a time when young girls have no power and no voice, set against a backdrop of the struggles for emancipation, federation and Aboriginal rights, Madeleine must find a way to fit in with the Williamson family's four sisters - beautiful, cold Bea; clever, awkward Gert; adventurous, rebellious Charlie; and darling baby Imo - as she searches desperately for a way home. Meanwhile, the Williamson girls' enchanting German cousin, Elfriede, arrives on the scene on a heavenly wave of smoke and cinnamon, and threatens to shatter everything... Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Lucy, Fin and Max have survived the missile attacks which have devastated Australia and its population, now they are fleeing Sydney on the promise of safety in a compound with people who will shelter and protect them. Not long after their arrival they find their safety may come at a price they are not willing to pay...It soon becomes evident that missiles and starvation aren't the only threats to their survival. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Anna has high expectations for herself and her future. She is hardworking and focussed, but while she would like life outside of studying to stay in the shadows, her family's dark history summons her to the country and to the grandparents she has never met. Anna discovers secrets she never knew existed and answers to questions she never thought to ask. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

After the St Bartholomew Massacre in 16th-century France, a sea captain vows to sail until he finds a world without persecution. Centuries later, his ship is seen each sunset by a girl on an island, and is tugged off course by her cries of distress. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Toby and Rhys are forced to spend a week together in a holiday house by the sea. Surfing makes Rhys happy but Toby is not so keen. Both boys have a secret that they are unwilling to share.Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

My name is Amy Gumm, and I'm the other girl from Kansas. After a tornado swept through my trailer park, I ended up in Oz. But it wasn't like the Oz I knew from books and movies. Dorothy had returned, but she was now a ruthless dictator. Glinda could no longer be called the Good Witch. And the Wicked Witches who were left? They'd joined forces as the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, and they wanted to recruit me. My mission? Kill Dorothy. Except my job as assassin didn't work out as planned. Dorothy is still alive. The Order has vanished. And the home I couldn't wait to leave behind might be in danger. Somehow, across a twisted and divided land, I have to find the Order, protect the true ruler of Oz, take Dorothy and her henchmen down, and try to figure out what I'm really doing here. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

For Quinn and her siblings, Fern and Reed, summer means working as counselors at their family's summer camp, The Hundred, a place known for its magical feel. But last summer was different. Last summer they all fell in love with the same boy, their best friend Dylan. But six months later and everything has changed. The summer camp is empty and covered in snow, and Quinn, Fern and Reed aren't speaking to each other anymore. Something happened that summer that tore them apart, and their memories won't let them forgive. Maybe the lake monster is not the only monster in camp. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Daine loses her entire family to a bandit attack. Her grief sees her rely on her heightened animal instincts and run with a wild wolf pack. On her return to the human world, she begins the long process of harnessing her magic power. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Finn, Kas, and Willow have survived the winter. Severe winds and cold have kept the Wilders at bay. Now that spring has come, everything has changed. They're being hunted again, and they won't be safe while the brutal Ramage wants their blood. But Finn and Kas made a promise to Rose - to find her baby, Hope, and bring her back...but finding Hope, means finding Ramage...and Finn will face the toughest decision of his live. Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 and above.

Raxter's School for Girls was meant to be the perfect place for young woman to receive an outstanding education. But when the Tox hits, leaving most of their teachers dead and their peers' bodies mutated, Raxter's becomes a living nightmare for Hetty, Reese and Byatt. Left to fend for themselves by the authorities, the surviving students of Raxters adhere to the strict quarantine designed to protect them from the wild and mutated beasts that roam the forest. When Byatt goes missing, Hetty is determined to do everything to bring her back - even if it means breaking quarantine and facing the horrors beyond Raxter's fence. Once outside though, she uncovers much more to the Tox and life at Raxter than she ever thought possible. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10, and above

Boarding in the wilderness, sixteen year old Sibylla expects the gruesome outdoor program but not friendship and love complications. New girl, Lou, who is grieving and fragile, must consider her self-imposed detachment as she becomes intrigued by an unfolding drama involving Sibylla. As Sibylla confronts a tangle of betrayal, she needs to renegotiate everything. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Will Grayson meets Will Grayson. One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two strangers are about to cross paths. From that moment on, their world will collide and lives intertwine. It's not that far from Evanston to Naperville, but Chicago suburbanites Will Grayson and Will Grayson might as well live on different planets. When fate delivers them both to the same surprising crossroads, the Will Graysons find their lives overlapping and hurtling in new and unexpected directions. With a push from friends new and old - including the massive, and massively fabulous, Tiny Cooper, offensive lineman and musical theatre auteur extraordinaire - Will and Will begin building toward respective romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history's most awesome high school musical. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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.

Kestrel hates the rules of Aramanth and, in defiance, climbs the wooden tower known as the wind singer. This brings the wrath of the Chief Examiner against her family and Kestrel and her twin brother must travel on a terrifying quest.to save their beloved father. Sometimes violent and cruel but always compelling. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The St Clairs are an adventurous flying family in Victoria post First World War and Kitty is inspired to fly just like her mother. After the tragic death of Kitty's mother, everyone rallies to help with her pain. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Winter is 16. She has just returned to her family home. She has not been here since she was four years old, when both of her parents died within six months of each other. Some of the locals are happy to see her. Others are not. Her decision to return, to restore her family home, and to settle down is met with some joy and some hostility. Getting to the bottom of why people feel the way they do will reveal things about her past she might wish she had never known. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Meg Finn is in a tough spot. In her last act on Earth, she committed a crime and died. With an even tally of good and evil deeds, Meg's spirit is stuck in limbo. For salvation, she must return to Earth and do more good deeds. Satan has other plans. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When hatred opens the homestead gates and the enemy is so close to home, do you fear the fall, or find courage to fly? A heritage listed home in the Riverina is up for grabs and Isabella's Mum falls hopelessly in love. Yet it seems the new immigrant family who come to pick oranges at the orchard become a target for intolerance. But when Isabella's brother Abel takes leave from the Army barracks to disappear without a trace, the family's tree change plummets them into their worst fears. As the hours march irrevocably on, hope is the only weapon they possess, as each of them learn that a hero is made, not born. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Marguerite's father is desperate for a son. Instead, he's stuck with a feisty, stubborn daughter who refuses to behave like a lady. Shaking off the strict expectations of court life, Marguerite roams free, learning to ride, to fence and to outwit the boys. But, the count of Flanders has plans for his wayward daughter. Some violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Experimented on during her time in a concentration camp, Yael has the unique ability to skin shift, to change her appearance at will. Now, ten years on since the Nazis won the war, Yael has just one mission, to kill Hitler. To get close to him, Yael must transform into Adele Wolfe, Germany's most famous female rider, and win the legendary Axis Tour, an epic, long distance motorcycle race from Berlin to Tokyo. Only the strongest and wiliest riders survive. Includes violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Orphaned Daine, now fourteen, has always been able to mind-speak with animals, but now she is also learning to heal their wounds magically, to enter their minds and see with their eyes, and to change temporarily into animal form. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Welcome to my story. I didn't learn a lot in school, not in the classroom, anyway. But I learned a lot from life. "Always remember you're as good as anybody else", Vince's mother, Kate, often told him. And he was, becoming a champion footballer and premiership-winning coach. But change was in the air, and Vince wanted to help make life better for his people too. At every step, Vince found light in the darkness, the friendly face in the crowd, the small moments that make the world go round. Welcome to the wonder of little things. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 or above.

Join Eddie Woo, award winning teacher and star of the Woo-tube channel) as he tells us how he came to love maths. Eddie mingles anecdotes with facts to bring the world of maths to life and make it fun, even for the most sceptical maths student. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

This is a love story. It is the story of Howling Books, where readers write letters to strangers, to lovers, to poets. It is the story of Henry Jones and Rachel Sweetie. They were best friends once, before Rachel moved to the sea. Now, she's back, working at the bookstore, grieving for her brother, Cal. She's looking for the future in the books people love and the words they leave behind. Mature themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

It's been two years since Gia Basso witnessed archangels and demons waging war upon each other beneath the dome of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan. Traumatised, Gia has been in self-imposed exile on the English coast.But the sudden reappearance of Mercy in her life, in a new and terrifying incarnation, draws Gia into a desperate struggle to locate Lucifer -- who holds Ryan Daley captive in order to keep him from Mercy, his beloved, forever. Tasked by the archangels to destroy Lucifer, and by Mercy to help her trace and free Ryan, Gia is pushed to the limits of human endurance as she traverses the earth -- with the help of friends old and new -- to do the impossible. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Written Portraits is a national writing competition that showcases young Australian writing, providing young writers with the opportunity to express inner feelings and emotions associated with being a teenager. The theme of this anthology is portrait at home. The short stories in this powerful anthology are all written by teenagers who are from a range of backgrounds. Each story expresses the sense of belonging or displacement to home, place or others. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

As the snow begins to fall, a man is forced to take shelter at the dark, foreboding Wuthering Heights. This house is haunted by memories and the dangerous story of Cathy and Heathcliff, who fell violently in love but could not be together. Cruelly separated by social class, fate, the actions of others and their own bitterness, Cathy and Heathcliff are united in an all-consuming passion that lasts beyond death. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.