Booklists

The ancient world of magic is no more. Its heroes are dead, its halls are in ruins and its great battles between Light and Dark are forgotten. Only the Stewards remember. For centuries they have kept vigil, sworn to protect humanity if the Dark King ever returns. Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run in London, pursued by the men who killed his mother. When an old servant urges him to seek out the Stewards, Will is ushered into a secret world, where he must train to fight for the Light in the oncoming war. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

The Dark King has risen. Only a handful of heroes remain. The Hall of the Stewards is in ruins. Pursued by dark forces, Will and his allies must travel to the heart of the ancient world, forging new and dangerous ties, and revealing the shocking secrets of the past. But Will is carrying a dark secret of his own - his true identity. As the ancient world threatens to return, can Will and his friends fight their fate? Or will the truths they learn tear their world apart? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Spectacular photographs and interesting facts bring you face to face with some of the most fascinating animals on Earth. Journey through scenic and rich animal habitats, from the Amazon rainforest to the Himalayas, the Sahara to the South Pole. Discover how these diverse and fascinating creatures feed, interact, mate, play and survive, and why it is important for them to survive.

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero. But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado - taking you with it - you have no choice but to go along, you know? Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little bluebirds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still a yellow brick road - but even that's crumbling. What happened? Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe. My name is Amy Gumm - and I'm the other girl from Kansas. I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I've been trained to fight. 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.

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.

My name is Amy Gumm. Tornadoes must have a thing about girls from Kansas, because-just like Dorothy-I got swept away on one too. I landed in Oz, where Good is Wicked, Wicked is Good, and the Wicked Witches clued me in to my true calling: Assassin. The way to stop Dorothy from destroying Oz-and Kansas-is to kill her. And I'm the only one who can do it. But I failed. Others died for my mistakes. Because of me, the portal between the worlds has been opened. And if I don't find a way to close it Dorothy will make sure I never get to go home again. Now it's up to me to: join the Witches, fight for Oz, save Kansas, and stop Dorothy once and for all. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

This biography traces five generations of an Australian Italian family. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

What is the colour of love or loss? After an unimaginable tragedy turns her life upside-down, Leigh embarks on a quest that is partly physical, partly magical, and entirely transformative. An artist by calling, Leigh's story is illuminated in colours of all shades and meaning. As she journeys into her family's past and discovers a cultural identity she never knew, she finds the answers she was looking for, and even answers she didn't know she needed. This book deals with issues of grief, suicide and healing. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Unrest claims the rebels and danger strikes from every corner. Eragon must now make choices, choices that will take him across the Empire and beyond, and involve unimaginable sacrifice.

As Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, travel to the land of the elves to further their training in the skills of the Dragon Rider, they experience new adventures. Meanwhile, Eragon's cousin, Roran, fights a new battle back home and the outcome may put Eragon in grave danger.

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy. Perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But, when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realises he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. He sets off on a journey of magic, power, duty and destiny.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And the real battle, confronting Galbatorix, still lies ahead. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

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.

Do you want to be the boss and earn your own money? Get ready to go on an epic money adventure. Full of great ideas, tips and real life examples from kids who have set up their own business, you will learn fast easy ways to put money in your pocket and be a real life superhero.

Australia's early explorers were an odd bunch. Some were incredibly brave, others extremely foolhardy. Some formed friendships with Aborigines and respected their rights and traditions, others treated them very badly. Some gained fame and fortune, others lost their lives. All had a thirst for discovery.

Australia is home to both an ancient, Indigenous culture and a young European influence. While their coexistence has been far from peaceful, both groups have proven to be tenacious, resourceful and resilient. Australia is the only country founded solely to contain convicts.

Australia is one of the best places to watch the unique bird families that share our natural and urban environments. Find out how they evolved, how they survive and adapt in the face of human progress, and how they interact with each other.

Australia has unique, ancient landscapes, plants and animals. Humans have not always realised how incredible the natural wealth is and have exploited the environments, greatly affecting the flora and fauna. Australia has one of the worst extinction rates in the world but it's not too late to save our wild places.

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.

Along with art, music and song, dance is an important part of Indigenous Australian culture. Dance has always been used to tell a story. NAISDA College is a great place to start to learn about Indigenous culture and dance.

Fourteen year old Abigail finds herself transported back to Sydney's Rocks area in the nineteenth century when she follows a mysterious girl, who appeared during a scary game with other children in the neighbourhood.

A lightweight but informative and accurate book comprising chapters that alternate between a humorous history of surfing and sensible advice from Dr Stoke. Excellent illustrations by Jeff Raglus further emphasise the humour.

Using the accounts of early European explorers, colonists and farmers, Bruce Pascoe compellingly argues for a reconsideration of the hunter-gatherer label for pre-colonial Aboriginal Australians. He allows the reader to see Australia as it was before Europeans arrived - a land of cultivated farming areas, productive fisheries, permanent homes, and an understanding of the environment and its natural resources that supported thriving villages across the continent. Young Dark Emu - A Truer History asks young readers to consider a different version of Australia's history pre-European colonisation.

Jessie and Leslie are close friends who create a magical world for themselves, until a tragedy happens.

When thirteen-year-old Lora tells her parents that she wants to join Premier Castro's army of young literacy teachers, her mother screeches to high heaven, and her father roars like a lion. Lora has barely been outside of Havana - why would she throw away her life in a remote shack with no electricity, sleeping on a hammock in somebody's kitchen? But Lora is stubborn: didn't her parents teach her to share what she has with someone in need? Surprisingly, Lora's abuela takes her side, even as she makes Lora promise to come home if things get too hard. But how will Lora know for sure when that time has come?

Jimmy Jo becomes a great country and western singer and finds his family is not what it seems.

Louise is overshadowed by her talented twin, Caroline, and she has to struggle with her own identity throughout her life. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Lyddie is a survivor of hard times in a nineteenth century American cotton mill.

Parzival meets three mounted men in armour and is determined to have adventures in the court of King Arthur.

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.

Max Ride and her best friends are up against a deadly force that's racing across the globe. And Fang, Max's best friend and soulmate, is gone He's creating his own gang that will replace everyone, including Max. But, with Dylan ready and willing to fight by her side, Max can no longer deny that his incredible intensity draws her in. Soon, Max, Dylan and the rest of their friends will have to join forces with Fang for an explosive showdown in Paris that's unlike anything you've ever imagined.

Angel says that Fang will be the first to die, and Angel is never wrong. Fang is Max's friend, her soul mate, her partner in leading her flock of winged children. Life without Fang is unimaginable. When Dylan, a newly created winged boy is introduced into the flock, their world is upended yet again. Raised in a lab like the others, Dylan was designed to be Max's perfect other half. Thus unfolds a battle of perfection versus passion that terrifies, twists and turns. Meanwhile, the apocalypse is coming.

Max and her flock of virtually indestructible part-human, part-bird hybrids must rescue her human mum who has been kidnapped by a criminal mastermind, with an elaborate plan to wreak worldwide, ecological catastrophe. But, in order to rescue her, fourteen year old Max and the five members of her flock must team up with the US Navy to determine why millions of fish are dying off the coast of Hawaii.

As Maximum Ride boldly navigates a post-apocalyptic world, she and her broken flock are roaming the earth, searching for answers to what happened. All will be revealed in this last spectacular ride.

Maximum Ride and her faithful friends stand ready to face the two greatest threats that humankind has ever known. And this time, the enemy truly can't be stopped. The danger mounts just as Dylan has finally worked his way into Max's heart and just as her beloved Fang unexpectedly returns to the flock. An explosive confrontation between the two boys with a claim to Max's heart ensues, and the entire world hangs in the balance.

Max and her winged flock face their ultimate enemy and discover their original purpose to defeat a sinister experiment to re-engineer a select population into a scientifically superior master race and terminate the rest. Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel have always worked together but now they are torn apart, living in hiding and captivity, across the globe from one another so defeating the forces will be very difficult.

In a flying fight with the Erasers, Fang is injured so seriously that Max and the flock take him to hospital. With wings and avian DNA, it's obvious he's not a normal human and the FBI is called. The lead agent takes the flock home to her farm, where they live a normal life for the first time and begin to search for their birth parents. Then, everything falls apart and the flock of six face betrayal and extreme danger.

Fourteen year old Max and her adopted family, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy and Angel, were created as experiments in a lab and are genetically enhanced enabling them to fly. Jeb, a sympathetic scientist, helped them to escape and they are on the run from part-human, part-wolf predators, called Erasers, who have orders to kill them so that the world will never know they existed.

Max and the five other members of the flock, who can fly, are asked to help a group of environmental scientists studying the effects of global warming. The expedition seems a perfect combination of adventure, activism and escaping government forces who are watching them. But, even in Antarctica, Max is an irresistible target in constant danger. For whoever controls her powers could also control the world.

When I was told we were going to London to study Living History, I thought they were joking. But, here I am, Rafe Khatchadorian, global jetsetter. Now, all I need to do is find a way of avoiding the school bully, getting Jeanne Galletta to talk to me, and trying not to get lost in London. But, things are never that simple. So, fasten your seatbelts and hold on tight because this could be a very bumpy flight.

Georgia plans to excel at Hills Village Middle School in all the places her troublemaking brother failed. She's bet him that she'll become one of the most popular girls. But Rafe left a big mark and no one will give Georgia a chance. Rafe has sneakily signed up her band to play at the school dance, and she's terrified to embarrass herself in front of the snooty Princesses who run the school and the boy who's caught her eye. Will she be able to overcome her fears and win her bet with Rafe.

Rafe has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he's got a plan for the best year ever, if he can pull it off. With his best friend awarding him points, Rafe tries to break every rule in his school's Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class, running in the hallway, pulling the fire alarm. But when Rafe's game starts to catch up with him, he'll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he's finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he's been avoiding.

The Khatchadorian kids are an opinionated duo and they don't exactly see eye to eye. But, when wild-card Rafe and mostly-straight-laced Georgia go at it, the only thing more fun than their ranting is getting to join in. Their back-and-forth banter covers a range of topics,from bullying to cafeteria food to school dress codes. There's room for readers to share their own points of view.

Just when school was at its suckiest, things take a turn for the better when a cool, mysterious new girl shows up. Not only that, she actually wants to be my friend! But, you guessed it, things aren't that simple. And when Hollywood suddenly rolls into Hills Village, things get weird very fast. Somehow, unbelievably, I, Rafe Katchadorian, am in the movie business.

Life is finally starting to look up for everyone's favourite troublemaker, Rafe Khatchadorian. No bullying, zero girl dramas and rising grades. And, when Rafe wins an all-expenses-paid trip to Australia, he can't quite believe his luck. That is, until his dreams of beaches, surfer chicks and cuddly koala bears go horribly wrong. Australia isn't exactly the island paradise Rafe imagined. And, nobody mentioned the zombies.

It's fair to say that Rafe's recent trip Down Under could not easily be called a success. In Australia, he and his Mom were forced to flee a pack of bloodthirsty zombies after the 'performance piece' by Rafe and The Outsiders traumatised Shark Bay. Yet, when Rafe receives an offer to attend an all-expenses paid campout in the Northern Territory, he takes precisely six seconds to agree.

When Rafe becomes the unlikely benefactor of a will, it's not all good news. Sure, he gets another free trip Down Under but he also has to go to school while he's in Sydney. Blergh. And not just any school . . . St Mungo's is the snobbiest of snobby establishments and you can bet your bottom dollar that Rafe won't quite fit in. Chaos ensues and Rafe is, once again, in the middle of a very big mess. Can he tidy this one up, or will he be sent packing with another black mark against the Khatchadorian name?

Fifteen year old alien hunter, Daniel X, is on a mission to finish the job that killed his parents. He wants to wipe out the world's most bloodthirsty aliens on The List. With telepathy and the ability to transform and create, Daniel's got more than a few tricks up his sleeve. But, as he battles towards his top target, Daniel can't forget that, on their lists, there's only one name at the top, and that's his.

Daniel X has his work cut out for him. A teenage alien hunter, he has a deadly list of evil predators to eliminate and, while he's made it all look easy so far, much darker days await him. Next on his list is Number Five, an unsightly and terrifying alien, who is watching Daniel as intently as Daniel has been tracking him.

It's a dog-eat-dog world, and Rafe Khatchadorian is just trying to live in it. Life in middle school is finally starting to seem bearable until Rafe spots his grandmother standing in the free-meal line at the local soup kitchen.To help earn some money for the family, Rafe concocts a brilliant plan, a dog-walking business that soon turns into a huge money-making neighbourhood empire. He'll even have extra cash to buy his own WormHole Deluxe Multi-Platform GameBox. That is, until two terrible twins launch the Great Dog War by sabotaging Rafe's flyers and stealing his customers. Plus, his bratty kid sister Georgia has skipped a grade so now she's in all of Rafe's classes. Throw a kid a bone.

Rafe is heading back to the dreaded Hills Village Middle School, the site of the worst years of his life. Rafe will repeat a year unless he can prove himself on an outdoor survival excursion, complete with dangerous white-water rafting, dizzying rock climbing and military style counsellors. But so far this is easy. Rafe and the rest of the pack of 'delinquent' trainees are forced to cooperate as they prepare for their final test.

Rafe Khatchadorian is ready for a fun summer at camp until he finds out it's a school camp. Luckily, Rafe easily makes friends with his troublemaking cabin mates and bunkmate, a boy nicknamed Booger-Eater, who puts up with endless teasing from the other kids. Rafe soon realises there is more to a person than a nickname.

Rafe heads back to the dreaded Hills Village Middle School, where he's forced to take 'special' classes. He finds himself joining the school's football team, alongside his main tormenter, Miller the Killer. But, Rafe has grand plans for a better year: He decides to start a super-secret art project that's sure to rock the school. Then, if he manages to make a play to save his team, Rafe might have to deal wit something new, popularity.

After the worst year of his life, Rafe thinks he's it made in seventh grade. He's been accepted to art school and imagines a maths-free zone. But, It's more competitive than he expected and to score big in class, he needs to find a way to turn his boring life into the inspiration for a work of art. But, when his newest mission uncovers family secrets, he has to decide if he's ready to have his world turned upside down.

Rose is a North Child and superstition says that she will travel far from home and meet a lonely, icy death. Unaware of her fate, she makes a bargain with a mysterious white bear and is carried to a distant castle. But, once there, Rose unleashes a terrible curse and must embark on an epic journey to save the stranger who has stolen her heart.

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.

The journey of a boy on the knife-edge between life and death, where the raging seas meet a coastal wilderness. When a deadly plague reaches the small fishing camp where he lives, an orphan named Leif is forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He flees northward, following a wild, fjord-riven shore. The deeper into his journey, the closer Leif comes to his truest self as he connects to 'the heartbeat of the ocean ... the pulse of the sea.'

Charley Goddard goes to fight in the American Civil War. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An historical, political thriller set in Melbourne during the Depression in the 1930s. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Set in the seventies, Jan Packard is a Melbourne thirteen year old growing up in changing times. She discovers the sexual revolution, politics, the anti-Vietnam moratorium, the impact of war service, boys and that parents are fallible and human. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Tab is caught up in the Battle of Begonias when she meets Azt, a mysterious stranger. Suddenly, she is helping him escape and also finding out about the Perfect Princess who left Quentaris years ago.

For two summers Torak and Renn have been living in the Forest with their faithful pack-brother, Wolf. But their happiness is shattered when Renn realizes Torak is in danger - and she's the threat. When she mysteriously disappears, Torak and Wolf brave the Far North to find her. At the mercy of the Sea Mother and haunted by ravenous ice bears, their quest leads them to the Edge of the World. There they must face an enemy more evil than any they've encountered.

Winter is coming. Souls' Night draws near. Eostra, the Eagle Owl Mage, holds the clans in the grip of terror. Torak must leave the Forest and seek her lair in the Mountain of Ghosts, while Renn faces an agonizing decision. Wolf, their faithful pack-brother, must overcome wrenching grief. And in the final battle against the forces of darkness, Torak will make the most shattering choice of all.

When he was outcast, Torak was the hunted one. Nine moons later, he becomes the hunter when he vows to avenge the killing of one of his closest friends. Racked by guilt and grief, he follows the killer into the Deep Forest. But, there is a rottenness at the heart of the Forest for its clans have succumbed to the lies of the Soul-Eaters. Here, Torak finally learns why he is the Sprit Walker and discovers the true cost of revenge.

For two moons, Torak has hidden a terrible secret and now it is revealed. He bears the mark of the Soul-Eater and must pay the price. Cast out from the clans, he is alone, cut off from his best friend and his beloved pack-brother. Torak flees to the haunted reed-beds of Lake Axehead where he is hunted by the Otter Clan and taunted by the Hidden People. As soul-sickness claims him, he falls prey to an even greater menace.

It's winter and Wolf, Torak's beloved pack-brother, has been captured by an unknown foe. In a desperate bid to rescue him, Torak and Renn must brave the frozen wilderness of the Far North. As they battle for survival amid howling blizzards and the ever-present menace of the great white bear, their friendship is tested to breaking point, and Torak is forced to get closer to his enemies than ever before.

As the Moon of No Dark waxes large, the clans fall prey to a horrifying sickness. Fear stalks the Forest. No one knows the cause and only Torak can find the cure. His quest takes him across the sea to the mysterious islands of the Seal Clan. Here, Torak battles an unseen menace and uncovers a betrayal that will change his life forever.

It's six thousand years ago and evil stalks the land. According to legend, only twelve year old Torak and his wolf-cub companion can defeat it. Their journey takes them through deep forests, across giant glaciers and into dangers they never imagined. Torak and Wolf are terrified of their mission but they must battle to save their world.

Tom finds a wonderful garden that only appears when the clock strikes thirteen.

Finding herself lost on the streets of Trolberg, Hilda befriends a talking raven. Together, they encounter all manner of bizarre creatures, from outcast Trolls to ferocious Salt Lions and deadly Rat Kings. Maybe, the city isn't so boring after all. As the pair try to find their way home, it becomes clear that the amnesiac raven has an important mission to attend to, if only he could remember what it was. A graphic novel.

Hilda meets the Nisse, a mischievous but charismatic bunch of misfits who occupy a world beside but, also, somehow within our own, and where the rules of physics don't quite match up. Meanwhile, on the streets of Trolberg, a dark spectre looms. A graphic novel.

Hilda finds her world turned upside down as she faces the prospect of leaving her snow-capped birthplace for the hum of the megalopolis, where her mother, an architect, has been offered a prestigious job. During Hilda's daily one-and-a-half hour trek to school, she looks for ways to stall her mother's decision. She conspires with the beings of the mystical Blue Forest to delay the inevitable. But, we don't know whether they will they help or hinder her. And, more importantly, we need to know who is the mysterious giant that turns up at night. A graphic novel.

Hilda and her mum have relaxed into city life now, but Hilda is starting to shirk her responsibilities and has enough magical friends and tricky ways that it's easy for her to defy her mother's wishes. After a daring escape attempt, the pair find themselves on the other side of the wall, furious with each other and forced to embark on a dangerous adventure through the land of the trolls.

While on an expedition to illustrate the magical creatures of the mountains around her home, Hilda spots a mountain troll. As she sketches, Hilda nods off but, when she wakes, the troll has totally disappeared. Even worse, Hilda is lost in a snowstorm. On her way home, Hilda befriends a lonely wooden man and narrowly avoids getting squashed by a lost giant. A graphic novel.

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.

Hilda is sitting in her tent, listening to the thunder passing overhead, when she hears a bell. As she hurtles towards the vanishing tinkling sound, Hilda unwittingly embarks on an adventure into strange worlds, ruled by magical forces. A graphic novel.

The controversial marriage of Otello, black football star, and Desmerelda, socialite and white pop icon, attracts jealousy and betrayal. The poor, street kids like Bush fight just as desperately for their family to survive. Realistic street language and drug references. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

El Gato, one of the world's greatest football players, tells the story of his life growing up in the forest in South America and of the ghostly keeper who taught him how to play soccer. Some adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

As the city of San Juan pulses to summer's sluggish beat, its teenage football prodigy El Brujito, the Little Magician, vanishes without trace. Paul Faustino, South America's top sports journalist, is reluctantly drawn into the mystery. As a story of corruption and murder unfolds, he is forced to confront a bitter history of slavery, and the power of the occult. Includes some adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The Nest was the best thing my dad ever built, and he built it for me. He built it when we moved into the new house - him, me and Mum. I thought it was wonderful. Outrageous. But then Dad went there to hide from the world, and from Mum, and everything started to go wrong...

Based on the adventures of the Bronte sisters, Charlotte and Emily, and their brother, Branwell. Cooped up inside the bleak parsonage in winter, they write adventures for the heroes of their secret worlds. One day, Emily escapes to the moor and finds a mysterious outcast, Heslington, whose story of lost love intrigues her. She resolves to help him. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

An excellent collection of classic and modern stories which speculate about the nature of aliens.

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

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

Peter is the son of a merchant sailor during the Second World War whose father survives a bombing by a German U-Boat. This motivates Peter to be more actively involved in the English war effort.

Being a teenager is hard enough. But after losing her hearing, Demi's life is even harder. After all, how do you know what people are saying about you when you can't even hear them whisper? Demi is struggling with losing her hearing and trying to fit in at a new school while trying to bridge the gap between her old friends and her family who don't seem to understand how shut out she feels from everything and everyone around her.

From the lessons of a high-performance athlete's career to appreciating the small things in life - this inspiring illustrated book, for fans of Ellyse Perry, features stories and reflections from her childhood and career on the themes of dreaming, belief, work, resilience, acceptance, opportunity, balance and perseverance - and their importance in everything we do.Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

An anthology that identifies the many issues of older adolescents' angst. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In a post-apocalyptic world of rigid rules, Althea's luxurious life is turned upside-down when she is kidnapped by the dreaded Variants, genetically evolved mutants who can travel through space at will. Betrayed by those she trusts most, Althea is forced to question everything she thought she knew, including who she is and what she's capable of. Althea must separate deception from truth to claim her own power.

As life for German Jews becomes ever more dangerous, Anna's parents make the desperate decision to send her to England. But the war follows her to Kent, and soon Anna finds herself caught up in a web of secrecy and betrayal. How can she prove whose side she's on when she can't tell anyone the truth? But actions speak louder than words, and Anna has a risky plan.

Two very different girls, the punk and the goody-goody, are forced together in a peer-counselling situation at their school. Surprisingly, they find they have some things in common. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Men and women prove their worth in this exciting adventure. Minna, a Briton and a blacksmith's daughter, raises a sickly foal, commandeered by her brother, Cerdic, when he joins the soldiers. As bloodthirsty pirates plan to waylay the tiny Roman outpost, Cerdic and Minna risk all so that she can find reinforcements to save all their lives and that of her beloved defender, Theo.

It's 1928 and the glitz and glam of show business in pre-Depression era New York City is in full swing. The lights are bright for financiers and those who entertain them, and life seems good in the big city. But, in one house, a little girl is sent away by her cold, ruthless stepmother. She does not return until it's too late. The market has crashed, her father is gone and her stepmother is even more desperate for wealth and attention.

Skiff Beaman needs to fix his family's fishing boat but, to do this, he needs money. With his Dad spending his days on the TV couch since his mother died, Skiff decides that fishing for Bluefin tuna is his only solution.

Saul loves the water but his dad hates it. Saul's mum walked into the sea and drowned. Now Saul's dad has moved him far away and Saul yearns for the sea.

Abraham Lincoln is fondly remembered as an American President with an unwavering sense of justice and willingness to fight for his beliefs. Follow Lincoln's journey from humble beginnings as a poor Illinois rail splitter to his election as America's 16th President, and into the dark days of the Civil War leading to his tragic assassination.

Johnny has seen his childhood bestie turn into an attractive teenage girl that he now wants to turn into his girlfriend. How can he get her to see through the boy she is going out with, turn to Johnny and come to take him seriously. He will use all his comedic wit and romance her with entertainment.

In Alanna the first adventure, Alanna wants to become the first female knight so she poses as a boy and takes her place among the pages at the palace.

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.

Beka Cooper is finally a Dog, a fully fledged member of the Provost's Guard, dedicated to keeping peace in Corus's streets. Delving deep into the gambling world, it won't be enough for Beka be her usual terrier self. She'll have to learn from Achoo to sniff out the criminals and to be a Bloodhound.

Daja, a smith-mage, and her teacher spend the winter in Kugisko. A series of fires suggest the work of an arsonist and Daja is impressed by the heroic efforts of the firefighter, Bennet; but Daja's world is about to be turned upside-down. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Because of her wild magic, which gives her a strong affinity with animals and the ability to heal them, Daine is part of a delegation sent to work out a peace treaty with a barbarous emperor whose beloved captive birds are deathly ill. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Keladry wants to be accepted as a knight in the kingdom of Tortall in the first book of the series, Protector of the small.

Alanna participates in her first war, battles against Jonathan's evil uncle, Duke Roger, meets the Great Mother Goddess and experiences first love, all the while maintaining her guise as a boy.

Kel has achieved her ultimate ambition - she is a knight of Tortall. But now she must fulfil a knight's duty and fight for her country against the Scanran invasion.

Accompanied by the legendary Shang Dragon, Alanna must attempt the impossible - recover the fabled Dominion jewel. And she must work fast. Tortall is in terrible danger. Roger Conte is back.

Fourteen year old Sandry, a weaving mage, discovers that a young boy has magical powers and begins training him. Together they fight the terror of assassins using 'unmagic' and are drawn into a world of murder and violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Beka and her partner, Tunstall, are put on the biggest case of their lives. They are on the trail of kidnapping evil-doers who murder anyone that gets in their way or possesses any information about them or their organisation. Murder and treason are afoot, and Beka will be dealing with greedy nobles, a rising religious cult and a hunt throughout the kingdom that will either make her career, or end her life.

Four years have passed since Evvy left the streets of Chammur to begin her training as a stone mage. At fourteen, she's unhappy to be on a new journey with her mentor, prickly green mage Rosethorn, who has been called to the Battle Islands to determine why the plants and animals there are dying.

Kel has passed her probationary year, and is now a fully-fledged page at the Tortall palace. But this hasn't made her year-mates any happier about training with a girl. In fact, the plotting and bullying is about to get worse.

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.

Daine and her mentor are about to be killed when Daine's parents, who are gods, sweep the pair up into their domain. They are saved, but both Daine and Numair want to return to mortal regions to help their country fight against the deadly foes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Kethlun Warder is a journeyman glass-blower mage with rare and uncontrolled lightning magic powers. Several mage combine their powers to try to solve a murder in this mystery fantasy. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

All four books in one.

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.

Kel is physically and mentally preparing herself for the final test in the Chamber of the Ordeal, in which fourth year squires must successfully face their greatest fears before becoming knights.

Briar, a plant mage, accompanies his teacher to a barren land to help the farmers. While there he discovers the magical potential of a street urchin. Together, they fight rival street gangs and a wicked, noble woman. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Beka Cooper starts training as a Dog, the slang for police officer in her time, for the local magistrate. Being accepted as a new Puppy in the guard has its challenges but Beka has special advantages. She can hear the souls of the dead and the voices of murdered victims. With her magical and intuitive cat and her two trainers, she is out to discover who is behind the disappearance of lower city children.

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.

A collection of eleven tales from the land of Tortall, featuring both previously unknown characters and old friends.

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.

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.

Newly knighted, Alanna of Trebond seeks adventure in the vast desert of Tortall. Captured by fierce desert dwellers, she is forced to prove herself in a duel to the death.

In a new city and new school, Laurel is apprehensive about how she will fit in. When something blooms in the middle of her back, Laurel discovers that she is a faerie and was placed with human parents as a child. As Laurel learns about her true background and the dangers that face the faerie realm, she struggles to find her place in both worlds.

Since the death of his sister, Rose, in a terrorist attack, life for ten year old Jamie has been torn apart. A move to the country with his dad and older sister only increases Jamie's torment. His father mourns through alcohol and a wild rage against the killers. Jamie is bullied at his new school and yearns for his absent mother. Jamie knows he should feel sadder but he barely remembers his sister.

Turia Pitt is living proof that, with the right mindset, we truly can achieve anything. This is her story. Told against the backdrop of a never-ending series of impressive physical feats, not least her incredible recovery after the fire - this book unmasks the real Turia: funny, fierce, intelligent, flawed. Featuring new material about confidence, goal-setting, happiness and her latest challenge, motherhood. The novel shines a light on the grace, humour and inner-stell that gets Turia through each day

Emmy Award-winning ABC News chief national correspondent and Nightline co-anchor, Byron Pitts shares the heartbreaking and inspiring stories of six young people who overcame impossible circumstances with extraordinary perseverance. This book is usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

A friendship between a young adolescent girl called Possum and Olga, a Dutch World War II refugee, reveals past and present histories, connections and relationships. Grief and loss are sensitively handled and resolved. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Life for Kit Lovell has not been easy. She never knew her father, a renowned sea captain who drowned after his ship sank. Kit's grandmother dies and she and her mother are evicted from their home in England. When Kit's mother agrees to marry a man she has never met, they embark on a treacherous and monotonous journey to the far flung colony of South Australia. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Mileva's family tree includes resistance fighters and patriots, and she was raised on the values of brotherhood and unity. Marko was born into a family where love is earned, not given, and was branded early on as a troublemaker and a lost cause. Despite their differences, the two grow to become best friends. Yet as the 1990s approach, Yugoslavia begins to crumble and ethnic tensions arise. No longer inseparable, their different cultural backgrounds force Mileva and Marko apart. Through tragic events Mileva struggles to make sense of her identity as she attempts to salvage all that is left of the life and love she once had. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Heartstream: The app that allows you to feel everything. Amy Becker is a star. She's used Heartstream to broadcast every moment of her mother's illness. It's the realest, rawest reality TV imaginable, and it's everywhere. On the day of her mother's funeral, she goes home to find a fan of hers in the kitchen. The woman has rigged the house, and herself with explosives - and she's been waiting to talk to Amy for a very long time. Amy is about to discover just how far true obsession can go. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Raised as a boy, twelve year old Grayson has never felt comfortable in her own skin and longs to be able to express her true gender identity. She is a loner, eating her lunch in the library, trying to avoid the class bullies. Home is not much better. Although she has lived with her aunt, uncle and two cousins for years, she isn't close to them. They don't know the real Grayson. No one does. But, when Grayson impulsively signs up for school play tryouts and then auditions for the leading role, things begin to change.

Anne Frank is a young Jewish girl in Germany when Adolf Hitler rose to power and began his program to eradicate Jewish people. Anne and her family are forced to take refuge in a small annexe for two years.

Well-behaved women seldom make history. Good thing these women are far from well behaved . . . Rejected Princesses pays homage to an awesome collection of strong, fierce, and yes, sometimes weird, women: warrior queens, soldiers, villains, spies, revolutionaries, and more who refused to behave and meekly accept their place. An entertaining mix of biography, imagery, and humor, this thoroughly researched exploration salutes these awesome women drawn from both historical and fantastical realms, including real life, literature, mythology, and folklore. Each profile features an eye-catching image of both heroic and villainous women in command from across history and around the world, from a princess pirate in fifth century Denmark, to a rebel preacher in 1630s Boston, to a bloodthirsty Hungarian countess, and a former prostitute who commanded a fleet of more than 70,000 men on China's seas.

Meet 29 icons, including pop star Ariana Grande, Hollywood icon The Rock, sporting hero Serena Williams, and even royalty - Prince Harry - and discover how they have dealt with mental health issues to live inspiring lives. Whatever you are going through, learn why it is ok to not be ok with these perfectly imperfect stories.

Bastien Bonlivre is a boy with a big imagination, determined to finish the story his parents started. Olivier Odieux and his villainous brothers are masterminding their greatest plot yet. What connects these two stories is a dangerous secret, a hidden mystery and an unexpected race across Paris for the truth. Can Bastien and his friends, Alice, Theo and Sami, be brave enough to stop Olivier stealing the ending they deserve?

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

Nick finds himself caught between two worlds, playing a game on the computer that depends on his actions in real life.

Maurice the cat and his friends, a motley group of rats, have gained super intelligence overnight and quickly start scamming human villages with a Pied Piper of Hamelin ruse.

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.

Under the floorboards of the Store is a world of four-inch-tall nomes that humans never see. It is commonly known among these nomes that Arnold Bros. created the Store for them to live in, and he declared: "Everything Under One Roof." Therefore there can be no such thing as Outside. It just makes sense. That is, until the day a group of nomes arrives on a truck, claiming to be from Outside, talking about Day and Night and Snow and other crazy legends. And they soon uncover devastating news: The Store is about to be demolished. It's up to Masklin, one of the Outside nomes, to devise a daring escape plan that will forever change the nomes' vision of the world. . .

According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner. So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon - both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle - are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

The trouble on the Aching farm - monsters in the river, headless horsemen in the lane - climaxes when Tiffany's little brother is stolen away. Fortunately, the Nac Mac Feegle - the fighting, thieving, wee free men - will assist in his rescue. Tiffany will have a witty, inventive, sumptuous tale to tell.

The climate crisis is real. It is already changing the world around us. This book will help you to understand how we know this to be true, and what effect it might have in the future. The GOOD NEWS is that we have a plan. But the big question still remains- will we choose to do it?

Sisters, Devorah and Nechama, are two of Isaac Ochberg's orphans who have survived the Night of the Burning in Domachevo, Poland, in 1920. With courage and hope, the sisters travel to South Africa for a better life and a desire to find safety and a family that might love them.

In the Dominions, the dead linger, violent and unpredictable, unless a bonesmith severs the ghost from its remains. For bonesmith Wren, becoming a a ghost-fighting warrior is a chance to solidify her place in the noble House of Bone and impress her frequently absent father. But when sabotage causes Wren to fail her qualifying trial, she is banished to the Border Wall, the last line of defense against a wasteland called the Breach where the vicious dead roam unchecked. Determined to reclaim her family's respect, Wren gets her chance when a House of Gold prince is kidnapped and taken beyond the Wall. To prove she has what it takes to be a valkyr, Wren vows to cross the Breach and rescue the prince. But to do so, she's forced into an uneasy alliance with one of the kidnappers - a fierce ironsmith called Julian from the exiled House of Iron, the very people who caused the Breach in the first place -and the House of Bone's sworn enemy. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Suitable for mature readers. We follow the growing relationship between a young pickpocket and 'the creature', as together they pursue the elusive Dr Frankenstein. Set in 1800s London.

From the True Stories series, here are tales of hidden treasure and lost temples deep in the rainforests.

Lucas' grandfather has died and his mother decides they should stick with their plan to spend summer in his home, even though he is no longer there to enjoy their visit. A chance encounter with Caitlin from next door, a girl he only vaguely remembers from his childhood summer visits, reveals the stark truth that his grandfather's past is a mystery he may wish he hadn't revealed. And when he and Caitlin are faced with a life or death situation, Lucas finds himself being compared to his grandfather for all the wrong reasons. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

A lifesize statue of two warriors is accidentally uncovered beneath the Old Tree Questhouse. In trying to learn more about it, Nisha unwittingly gives it powers, which will almost bring about the destruction of Quentaris.

Nisha is a young, untrained fire magician in the beguiling city of Quentaris. Nisha is troubled by her erratic powers. While trying to harness them, she stumbles into the city beneath the city - Lower Quentaris

An intense, electromagnetic pulse strikes earth, grinding the world to a halt. Holly wakes in the wreckage of a smashed car, next to her unconscious older brother. She sets out on a dangerous and violent quest to bring order to a world gone mad. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In a world where humans live alongside elves, dwarves, werewolves and ogres, Bruno Trask accidentally gets hold of one of the Dark Lady's jewels. He finds himself on the run from the world's most famous, rich and influential Elf. Fast and satirical.

Let's get this straight - ghosts are everywhere. And they're dangerous. This is why my family has hunted them for hundreds of years. The Marin family run a two-man operation in inner-city Melbourne. Anton has the ghost-sight, but his father does not. Theirs is a gentle approach to ghost hunting. Rani Cross, combat-skilled ghost hunter from the Company of the Righteous, is all about the slashing. Anton and Rani don't see eye to eye - but with a massive spike in violent ghost manifestations, they must find a way to work together. And what with all the blindingly terrifying brushes with death, Anton must use his gap year to decide if he really wants in on the whole ghost-hunting biz...

So many ghosts are haunting the streets of Melbourne. When a plague of Lingerers, Moaners, Thugs and Weepers descend, Anton Marin and Rani need to work overtime to keep the people safe and send the ghosts on their way. When his long lost Aunt reappears through a portal to the Elsewhere, Anton is unsure if he can trust her, even more so when he realises her connection to the blood thirsty Trespassers, The ragged Sisters.

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

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.

Aubrey Fitzwilliam is the son of a prominent ex-prime minister. Usually, he is also brilliant at magic until he mucks up a spell that nearly kills him. With his best friend, George, Aubrey becomes involved in a dangerous political situation, where the lives of the king, the prince and his own father are threatened.

On his after-exams holiday in neighbouring Lutetia, Aubrey is hoping to bump into Caroline and find a cure for his condition. But, his family and the king all ask him to help them with various tasks, involving him and his friend, George, in magic, mystery and espionage.

Instead of clearing his name in Albion, Aubrey is pursuing his enemy, Dr. Mordecai Tremaine, deep into the heart of enemy territory. He uncovers a hideous combination of electrical science, golem manufacturing and soul-shattering magic which will bring the world far closer to the edge of the abyss. Alone, reviled and hunted, this is Aubrey's last chance to save the world. If he doesn't, there might not be a world left to save.

The war has finally erupted, sending Albion and the continent into chaos. Aubrey, George and Caroline are brought into a top-secret espionage unit and sent to investigate a mysterious, magical facility on the Gallia-Holmland border. They uncover a factory about to unleash a horror that could soon win the war. The only way to save thousands of lives could cost Aubrey his friends, his family, his reputation and even his life.

After Aubrey narrowly escapes the worst fate he can imagine, he realises he must confront his nemesis. With George and Caroline he travels to Holmland, the home of Dr Tremaine and the heart of hostile territory, only to face magical conundrums, near-death experiences, ghosts, brigands and enemies on their own ground.

Aubrey and his friend, George, are invited by Aubrey's Prime Minister father on a trip, on a top-secret submersible. The magical attack that cripples the vessel, sending it to the bottom of the sea, is just the start of a series of plots to destroy Albion. Once again, Aubrey's magical skills are tested to the full.

Although Quentaris is flourishing, strange events at the Old Tree Guesthouse are causing the once popular guesthouse to lose custom. Nisha and Tal, who feature in Quentaris in Flames and Beneath Quentaris, are soon on the trail of the problem, a shape-shifter who is stealing dreams.

When a fire is deliberately lit in the elf neighbourhood of Quentaris, Nisha and Tal get caught up in the action. They escape and must defend the city from a swarm of Zolka, insect-like creatures from the rift caves.

Fire magician, Nisha Fairsight and her friend Tal, hear that a star has fallen from the heavens and taken another form. Archon, the ruler of Quentaris, is offering a reward of 100 gold royals to anyone who finds the fallen star. Nisha and Tal visit threatening rift worlds and sail a boat of fire to the skies in their quest for the missing star.

When Jaq Coblin sees the sand men stealing a stone from the ancient Simesian Stairs, he becomes involved in a chase to find the magician whose aim is to destroy the city.

A simply written, moving account of Australian and New Zealand soldiers' dramatic experiences at Gallipoli, which includes extracts from their letters and diaries, along with graphic photographs. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Blackthorn's greatest desire, to become a Trahern warrior, is dangling within her reach. But, she must embark on a treacherous mission, deep into enemy territory, to infiltrate the Doane camp. She must locate the stolen daughter of Esil but the stakes are higher than she could ever imagine. As the mission takes a sinister twist, Blackthorn's instincts are put to the ultimate test.

Alyana is determined, despite being female, despite being so young, to become a great Trahern warrior. When her father dies, leaving her orphaned, she flees the constraints of her religious uncle's household and lives rough and wild, hunting and fighting in the great forest. Then her worst fears are realised. It is far worse to be captured by her enemies, the Doane, than endure her previous loneliness and isolation.

In the third of the Dark Materials trilogy, Lyra and Will, whose fates are bound together, are separated. They must find each other for ahead of them lies the greatest war that has ever been. This text includes representations that may be contrary to some religious beliefs.

Malcolm Polstead's life in the pub beside the Thames is safe and happy enough, if uneventful. But during a winter of unceasing rain the forces of science, religion and politics begin to clash, and as the weather rises to a pitch of ferocity, all of Malcolm's certainties are torn asunder. Finding himself linked to a baby by the name of Lyra, Malcolm is forced to undertake the challenge of his life and to make a dangerous journey that will change his and Lyra forever. 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.

In the first of the Dark Materials trilogy, Lyra's friend Roger disappears. She and her daemon, Pantalaimon, determine to find him, leading them to the bleak splendour of the North where scientists are conducting unspeakably horrible experiments. This text includes representations that may be contrary to some religious beliefs. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In the second of the Dark Materials trilogy, Lyra meets up with Will, a boy from a different world, who is escaping from serious trouble. Together, they set off to find the most powerful weapon in all the worlds. This text includes representations that may be contrary to some religious beliefs.

Froggy traces his family history with the ghostly help of Tad, who perished in the smallpox epidemic of 1881.

Against her better judgment, Callie is persuaded to re-enter her father's virtual reality program to save the life of Howell's friend. But instead of reversing recent events, Callie, her sister El and their friends find themselves back in Camelot.

Alice's family is proud of their historical links to Norfolk Island and are amazed to find out when they move there that their ancestor is considered to have been a tyrant. Trying to prove them wrong, Alice unearths a previously unknown diary which provides an insight into the way of life in the penal colony during the 1840s including the conflicting attitudes towards the treatment of convicts.

A fantastical story, the first in a trilogy linking the Arthurian legend with contemporary adolescent issues. Modern teenagers discover themselves when they travel back in time to the court of King Arthur.

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.

When Guinevere summons Callie back to Camelot, Callie becomes trapped in time while her companions face Mordred on the bloody battlefield of Camlann. Callie's future depends on saving Ana but death waits in the darkness for them all unless Callie can first save herself.

Laurinda is an exclusive school for girls. At its secret core is the Cabinet, a trio of girls who wield power over their classmates and some of their teachers. Entering this world of wealth and secrets is fifteen year old Lucy Lam, a scholarship girl, who has sharp eyes and a shaky sense of self. As she watches the Cabinet at work, and is courted by them, Lucy finds herself in a battle for her identity and integrity.

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.