Booklists

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.

After her father and younger sister die in a car accident, Aubrey's mother can't cope and abandons her. Aubrey goes to live with her grandmother in Vermont and finds solace in gran's love. When her mother reappears, Aubrey must decide whether to return home or stay. Highly emotive, requiring a mature reader. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

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

Karim and his seventeen year old brother, Jamal, live with their family in Ramallah, Palestine under Israeli military occupation. During the war, Karim meets Hopper, a teenager living in a refugee situation and, together, they fight to claim a little piece of ground for their sporting matches. Yet, even this is claimed by Israeli tanks and the boys experience a fight for their lives. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Siki rises to the rare position of girl-warrior in an Apache tribe. She witnesses the horrors of the Indian wars against the Mexicans and the invading White Eyes. A sometimes violent and very honest story of courage, integrity, betrayal, love, hope and despair as Siki struggles to belong and learns the truth of her own story. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and 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.

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

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

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.

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.

Declan seems to have it all, a loving family, friends he's known for years and a beautiful girlfriend. But, something in Declan's past just won't go away and he makes the only decision he thinks he has left. As the train approaches and Declan teeters at the edge of the platform, two versions of his life are revealed to him. One moment. One pause. One whole new life. A challenging, confronting read. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Sara Vanadi, AKA Freya, the Norse goddess of love, beauty, war and death, finds herself combating the evil corporation, Finemdi, who are trying to entice the ancient gods and goddesses, seduce them with new powers and then use their godly strengths to achieve greatness in a modern world. Sara dedicates herself to fighting the evil company but she has to learn the ways of the new world first. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 & above.

When she is asked to get involved in a social issue of her own choice, as part of a school project, Bel chooses to write to an Australian boy who is a prisoner on death row in Thailand. When he writes back, she learns more about the controversial issue of capital punishment but her involvement puts her at odds with her politician father and everyone else who loves her. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Ardavan is a young Parthian soldier whose mother was a Roman. After the disastrous Battle of Carrhae, many Roman soldiers lie dead on the battlefield and the survivors must serve Parthia as mercenaries. Able to communicate with both sides, Ardavan is raised to a special position where he and the beautiful Shara must survive in a world of intrigue and plots. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Sara, a strong and resourceful young woman, escapes with her father from Carthage by sea to face the hostile Roman navy and pirates. The naval tactics, medicine and international relations of the third century, and the insights into trades such as jewellery and sword-making, are an exciting backdrop to their perilous voyage and the political intrigue they encounter. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Alexa, the headstrong teenage daughter of a landowning family in 475 England, dreams of breeding fine horses. When she meets Artorius, a boy who dreams of victory, fighting the barbarians from horseback, Alexa finds allies to help extricate herself from her mother's plans. She finds herself in an uncertain, bloodthirsty world, where life has little value when measured against power and wealth. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

Alex Hudson is a good guy. He plays water polo, has a part-time job and does okay at school. Alex's life is made hell by his constantly baiting brother and awful father, with nobody to back him up, not even his own mother. Then the thing that anchors Alex is ripped away and his life seems pointless. 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.

Ged, the archmage, now the greatest wizard of all Earthsea, has been warned that the world's magic is disappearing. Ged and his one companion, Arren, set out to close the hole in the world that is leeching out the light. They discover darkness, decay, decline and the loss of knowledge and power. Even the dead are mysteriously crossing over. They must rid the world of this insanity. 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.

Earthsea is threatened by the return of the dragons and an invasion by the dead. But, it is Alder's desire to be reunited with his beloved dead wife that creates the greatest threat. Recognising this, Alder takes Sparrowhawk's advice and journeys to the Immanent Grove on Roke. His companions are Tenar, Tehanu, the young King Lebannen and the amber-eyed Irian, a dragon able to take the shape of a woman. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Years from when they escaped the sinister tombs of Atuan as a feisty high priestess and a powerful wizard, she is a simple, farmer's widow and he is a broken, old man mourning the powers that are lost to him. Now they must join forces again but this time to help a physically and emotionally scarred child whose destiny has not yet been revealed. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Tenar, chosen as the high priestess to the ancient and nameless powers of the earth, is now known as Arha, the Eaten One. It is her rightful duty to defend the labyrinth tombs of Atuan but when Ged Sparrowhawk comes to steal their greatest treasure, the ring of Erreth-Akbe, his tales of magic and a brighter world seduce Tenar into risking everything to escape. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In the 1930s in Alabama, a black man is charged with the rape of a white girl. The explosion of racial hatred that follows is viewed through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, whose father, Atticus, defends the man. The conscience of a town, steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy, is pricked by Atticus' stamina as he struggles for justice. Some adult themes; usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Arthur Pendragon frees the enchanted sword, Cliburn, from its rocky sheath and fights to save his kingdom from King Ulric. When Arthur marries Guinevere, Merlin the magician, agrees to help Arthur forget his true love, Vivianne, the Lady of the Lake. The legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table unfolds dramatically in this action-packed, graphic novel. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Steven's obsession with Avery leads him into what seems to be a childish game. It is, in fact, a very dangerous game. The players include Steven's unsuspecting friend, Tala, Connor, who is rumoured to have been in juvenile detention and may be a dealer, and his sister, Jade, a very hostile goth, and Avery. Their journey of self-realisation has unexpected outcomes. Mature themes and strong language in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

When Kezi's mother's life is threatened, her father bargains with Admat, god of oaths, to spare her. He is unprepared for the consequences, that he must sacrifice Kezi, instead. Kezi finds hope in Olus, the Akkan god of the wind, who loves her and determines to save her. Together, they face seemingly insurmountable trials but, if both succeed, they will become immortal. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Aza must save the kingdom of Ayortha and hopefully, win the love of the handsome prince. Possessed with a beautiful singing voice and an unusual gift, but bereft of popular beauty, Aza has been hidden in the shadows until she is drawn into palace intrigue by a jealous, insecure queen. An important lesson in true beauty and self-acceptance with all the treachery of Snow White. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

For as long as A can remember, life has meant waking up in a different person's body every day, forced to live as that person until the day ended. A always thought there wasn't anyone else who had a life like this. But A was wrong. There are others. A has already been wrestling with powerful feelings of love and loneliness. Now comes an understanding of the extremes that love and loneliness can lead to --and what it's like to discover that you are not alone in the world. In Someday, David Levithan takes readers further into the lives of A, Rhiannon, Nathan, and the person they may think they know as Reverend Poole, exploring more deeply the questions at the core of Every Day and Another Day: What is a soul? And what makes us human? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

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

Since her parents died, Sophie Teague's life has fallen apart. She's just enrolled at a new high school, hoping for a fresh start. But, Eve, a beautiful ghost, starts making terrifying nightly appearances, wanting Sophie to be her hands, eyes and go-to girl to tie up loose ends. Dealing with the dead might just involve the greatest sacrifice of all. Dark, thrilling and unrelentingly eerie. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Avicenna Crowe's mother, Joanne, is an astrologer with uncanny predictive powers and a history of being stalked. Now she is missing. The police are called, but they're not asking the right questions. Like why Joanne lied about her past, and what she saw in her stars that made her so afraid. But Avicenna has inherited her mother's gift. Finding an unlikely ally in the brooding Simon Thorn, she begins to piece together the mystery. And when she uncovers a link between Joanne's disappearance and a cold-case murder, Avicenna is led deep into the city's dark and seedy underbelly, unaware how far she is placing her own life in danger. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

There's something very wrong with me. When I wake up, I could be anyone! An angel in exile, Mercy is doomed to return repeatedly to Earth, taking on a new human form each time she does. Now she "wakes" as unhappy teen Lela, a girl caring for a dying mother but never herself. As her shattered memory begins to return, Mercy remembers Ryan, the boy she fell in love with in another life, and Luc, the angel haunting her dreams. Will Mercy risk Lela's life to be reunited with her heart's true desire? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Hell hath no fury like an angel scorned. Everything that has happened to Mercy over millennia has made her who she is. Now she and The Eight wage open war with Luc and his demons, and the earth is their battlefield. Ryan's love for Mercy is more powerful than ever, her guiding light in the hour of darkness. But the very love that sustains her, now places Ryan in mortal danger. Two worlds collide as Mercy approaches her ultimate breathtaking choice. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Mercy wakes on a school bus bound for Paradise, a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business... Or thinks they do. But Mercy has a secret life. She is an angel, doomed to return repeatedly to Earth, taking on a new human form each time she does, in an effort to resolve a cataclysmic rift between heavenly beings. In Paradise, Mercy meets Ryan, an eighteen-year-old whose sister was kidnapped two years ago and is presumed dead. When another girl is also taken, Mercy knows she has to act quickly and use extraordinary powers to rescue her, even if it means exposing her true identity. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and 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.

Mercy is an angel, exiled from heaven, and when she wakes in the body of nineteen-year-old Irina, Mercy discovers that she is one of the world's most infamous supermodels on the verge of a very public breakdown. Against the glamorous background of Milan's opulent fashion world, Mercy continues her increasingly desperate search for Ryan Daley, the mortal boy she remembers falling for in a past life. But this time, Mercy's memories and powers are growing ever stronger - and she begins to doubt the pleas of her dream lover, Luc, as more of her mysterious past is revealed. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and 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.

Meet Me at the Intersection is an anthology of short fiction, memoir and poetry by authors who are First Nations, People of Colour, LGBTIQA+ or living with disability. The focus of the anthology is on Australian life as seen through each author's unique, and seldom heard, perspective. With works by Ellen van Neerven, Graham Akhurst, Kyle Lynch, Ezekiel Kwaymullina, Olivia Muscat, Mimi Lee, Jessica Walton, Kelly Gardiner, Rafeif Ismail, Yvette Walker, Amra Pajalic, Melanie Rodriga, Omar Sakr, Wendy Chen, Jordi Kerr, Rebecca Lim, Michelle Aung Thin and Alice Pung, this anthology is designed to challenge the dominant, homogenous story of privilege and power that rarely admits "outsider" voices. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and 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.

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,

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?

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

Powerful story of innocent, persecuted children, estranged from society. One special messianic child never gives up hope that they will be rescued. When mass conformity and degeneration replace hope and humanity, what would it take to overcome the absolute power of the oppressor? An allegory for the experiences of the Jewish people in Nazi Germany. Strong language used in context. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Winter Young is a global pop sensation. Everybody wants tickets to see him. That's why a top-secret government organisation thinks he'll make the perfect spy. His target is infamous business tycoon and bad guy Eli Morrison. Because Morrison's daughter has just one birthday wish: a private concert with Winter Young. Winter must use his stardom to crack his target's inner circle and bring Morrison down. With him will be expert spy Sydney - and she is convinced Winter doesn't have what it takes. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

From small steps to great leaps ... Gene understands stories - comic book stories, in particular. Big action. Bigger thrills. And the hero always wins. But Gene doesn't get sports. As a kid, his friends called him "Stick" and every basketball game he played ended in pain. He lost interest in basketball long ago, but at the high school where he now teaches, it's all anyone can talk about. The men's varsity team, the Dragons, is having a phenomenal season that's been decades in the making. Each victory brings them closer to their ultimate goal: the California State Championships. Once Gene gets to know these young all-stars, he realises that their story is just as thrilling as anything he's seen on a comic book page. He knows he has to follow this epic to its end. What he doesn't know yet is that this season is not only going to change the Dragons's lives, but his own life as well. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 or above.