Booklists

Alton's girlfriend has dumped him, he has no money and no job, so it looks like a long summer holiday ahead. Then he is asked to drive his old, blind and sick uncle to play bridge. His parents are desperate for him to get in his uncle's good books, but Alton soon finds himself enjoying his uncle's company, as well as playing bridge.

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

Theodore 'Armpit' Johnson is determined to finish school, save money and become a respected member of society again. He may be the victim, the perpetrator or the hero of a violent crime in this amusing, sensitive and highly suspenseful story. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Aristotle is angry and self-doubting, with a brother in prison. Dante is self-assured, with an unusual way of viewing the world. They would seem to have nothing in common. But, as the loners spend time together, a special bond develops. Through their friendship, Ari and Dante learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be. Adult themes and language. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Freia is part of a group at school but she feels she really doesn't belong. Somehow, Freia finds herself helping, as a lighting assistant, with the school production, something she never thought she would do. Freia must try to be brave enough to make more changes in her life and let loose the real Freia Lockhart. Adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Al Miller wishes she was an only child. Al Miller is counting down the days until her over-achieving older sister Larrie finishes Year Twelve and leaves Whitlam High School for ever. Then, Al is certain, people will finally see her as more than just 'Larrie's little sister'. But when a rumour about Larrie spreads around school, Al finds herself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Who's behind the rumour? And will it kill Al's chances with school hunk, Josh Turner? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Sixteen-year-old Winter Mae Jones knows exactly what she wants. A career in fashion design. There's only one thing standing in her way. She's fat. And fat girls don't work in the fashion industry. So Winter decides to take matters into her own hands. She goes on a diet, which at first makes her feel fab and in control. It's only when things get out of hand that she comes to realise that, not only has she less control than she thought, but also that her weight has nothing to do with what's holding her back.

When Mia follows her sister halfway across the world to Alaska, she discovers that love can be found in the most unexpected and beautiful of places. Mia must find the courage to follow her heart in Alaska. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Nella is a nature loving, fifteen year old, grieving her father's estrangement and her mother's mental illness. In a bid to restore the family, Nella goes to Phillip Island to bring her Dad home. But, she discovers he has a new partner, whom he plans to marry. Nella also discovers the friendship of an older girl, also with an intense love of nature, who helps Nella understand her relationship with her father.

Alice has always been devoted to the natural world. But one day she inadvertently betrays what matters most to her and so she leaves her island home, planning to begin again, to be the person she thinks she should be. Clinging to a mysterious wooden box, Alice begins a new life in Melbourne where she meets Esmerelda. As their friendship deepens, Alice is forced to choose between living a comforting lie or accepting a more difficult truth.

Eloise and her family leave Cornwall for a new life in colonial New Zealand. They leave in the hope of a better life but find that expectation does not meet reality and that things do not always go to plan. Eloise is torn leaving the past behind and forging a new life in New Zealand. She struggles with the expectations of her position in society and following her heart. An enthralling historical novel focussing on love, loss, and hope for the future.

Spensa's life as a Defiant Defense Force pilot has been far from ordinary. She proved herself one of the best starfighters in the human enclave of Detritus and she saved her people from extermination at the hands of the Krell - the enigmatic alien species that has been holding them captive for decades. What's more, she traveled light-years from home as an undercover spy to infiltrate the Superiority, where she learned of the galaxy beyond her small, desolate planet home. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above. Now, the Superiority - the governing galactic alliance bent on dominating all human life - has started a galaxy-wide war. And Spensa has seen the weapons they plan to use to end it: the Delvers. Ancient, mysterious alien forces that can wipe out entire planetary systems in an instant. Spensa knows that no matter how many pilots the DDF has, there is no defeating this predator. "

Spensa has made it out of the Nowhere, but what she saw in the space between the stars has changed her forever. She came face to face with the Delvers, and finally got answers to the questions she's had about her own strange Cytonic gifts. The Superiority didn't stop in its fight for galactic dominance while she was gone, though. Spensa's team, Skyward Flight, was able to hold Winzik off, and even collect allies to help with the cause, but it's only a matter of time until humanity-and the rest of the galaxy-falls. Defeating them will require all the knowledge Spensa gathered while in the Nowhere. But being Cytonic is more complicated than she ever could have imagined. Now, Spensa must ask herself: How far is she willing to go for victory, if it means losing herself-and her friends-in the process. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Defeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible - assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

All her life, Spensa has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she's a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing. Spensa is sure there's more to the story. And she's sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars - and it was terrifying. Everything Spensa has been taught about her world is a lie. But Spensa also discovered a few other things about herself - and she'll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Dan has a happy and mostly uneventful primary school experience. He is happy and comfortable. And then he goes to year seven. High school is very different. Kids can be rough, loud, and even a little cruel. At the end of the year he gets the chance to go on a school trip to Europe. Dan meets several other young people similar to himself and has a summer to remember. This autobiographical graphic novel celebrates being true to yourself and finding your tribe.

Laney Curtis is in Year 8 when her mother develops breast cancer rejecting chemotherapy because she is pregnant. This touching story describes Laney's struggle with the possibility that her mother may die. Also, Laney develops a plan to snare Andy Carter, a student at her school. Best suited to mature readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

This is the breaking, the shattering, the smattering of every limit ever accepted or imposed... Kindred, Kirli Saunders debut poetry collection, is a pleasure to lose yourself in. Kirli has a keen eye for observation, humour and big themes that surround Love/Connection/Loss in an engaging style, complemented by evocative and poignant imagery. It talks to identity, culture, community and the role of Earth as healer. Kindred has the ability to grab hold of the personal in the universal and reflect this back to the reader. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

On 6 November 1939, Anna's father had to go away for a few hours. He left shortly after eleven o'clock and did not come back again. Seven year old Anna is locked out of the apartment and alone. She is hungry and scared, and unsure who she can trust or who she can turn to. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Katie and Matt are champion ocean swimmers who love a challenge that will test their training and skills to the limit. Effi and Christie live in a different world which is intense, funny, often overheated and far removed from the beach. When these two worlds meet, in a blend of love and loss, violence and prejudice, only the strongest will succeed in swimming against the tide. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

In the waters where Australia meets the vast Pacific Ocean, grows the world's most famous reef. Schools of fish dart among the colourful corals, octopuses hide in dark corners and sharks patrol the clear waters above. Welcome to the Great Barrier Reef. In this stunning, illustrated guide, discover the plants and animals that live in this vast underwater trove.

Liam O'Connor should have died at sea in 1912. Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010. But they have both been given a second chance - to work for an agency that no one knows exists. Its purpose: to prevent time travel destroying history . . . The end is approaching for the TimeRiders. In a final effort to prevent time travel destroying history, Liam and Maddy jump forward to 2070 to confront the enigmatic Waldstein and prove once and for all if he is friend or foe. What they discover is more shocking than anyone could have imagined and soon the TimeRiders are on one final mission - back to Biblical times to save the whole of humanity . . .

Liam O'Connor should have died at sea in 1912. Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010. Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026. But all three have been given a second chance - to work for an agency that no one knows exists. Its purpose: to prevent time travel destroying history . . . When Maddy finally unlocks fragments of the secret that Becks has been holding on to, the TimeRiders start to piece together their true purpose. Racing through time to connect the clues, the team discover a Mayan tribe and an ancient relic provides a vital link to the past and future.

Liam O'Connor should have died at sea in 1912. Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010. Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026. But all three have been given a second chance - to work for an agency that no one knows exists. Its purpose: to prevent time travel destroying history . . . Relocated to Victorian London, the TimeRiders joy-ride back to 1666 to witness the Great Fire of London. In the ensuing chaos, Liam and their newest recruit, Rashim, find themselves trapped between the fire and the Thames. They escape onboard a river boat, only to be confronted by an unscrupulous captain with his heart set on treasures of the high seas . . . Can Liam and Rashim survive the bloodthirsty and barbaric age of piracy long enough to be rescued?

Liam O'Connor should have died at sea in 1912. Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010. Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2029. Yet, moments before death, someone mysteriously appeared to save them. But, Liam, Maddy and Sal aren't rescued. They are recruited by an agency that no one knows exists, and with only one purpose, to fix broken history.

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.

Hunted by cyborg assassins from the future, the TimeRiders must abandon New York and go on the run. They escape to Victorian London and the streets where Jack the Ripper roams. But, before they can establish their new base, they make their most shattering discovery yet and it will change everything.

When Maddy mistakenly opens a time window where and when she shouldn't have, Liam is marooned sixty-five million years ago in the hunting ground of a deadly and, until now, undiscovered species of predator. Can Liam make contact with Maddy and Sal before he's torn to pieces by dinosaurs, and without endangering history so much that the world is overtaken by a terrifying new reality?

Project Exodus, a mission to transport about three hundred Americans from 2070 to 54AD to overthrow the Roman Empire, has gone catastrophically wrong. Half have arrived seventeen years earlier, during the reign of Caligula. Liam, Maddy and Sal become trapped in the Roman past and armed with knowledge of the future, Caligula is now more powerful than ever. The TimeRiders must make it back to 2001 and put history right.

The latest mission for the TimeRiders takes them back in time to Sherwood Forest in 1193 where they discover a terrible threat for the future.

The TimeRiders are in the middle of the American Civil War. When Abraham Lincoln follows Liam to the present day, it's up to Maddy to persuade two warring colonels to cease fire long enough for the team to come up with a way of stitching time back together.

When fiery Maud Mary Flynn is adopted, she leaves Barbary Asylum with high hopes of being cherished. Little does she know that the sisters who have adopted her require her for their family business, a shadowy extortion racket of the early 19th century that uses spiritualism to fleece the susceptible and tragic. Into this web stumbles Mrs Lambert, grieving mother of a drowned child.

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

Seventeen-year-old Keralie Corrington is one of Quadara's most skilled thieves, but when she steals an unexpectedly valuable package from a messenger she is soon entangled in a conspiracy that leads to all four of Quadara's queens being murdered. With no other choices and on the run from her former employer, Keralie teams up with Varin Bollt, the Eonist messenger she stole from, and together they race to discover who has killed the queens. But when dark secrets threaten their reluctant partnership and put everything at stake, Keralie and Varin must use all their daring to stay alive and untangle the mysteries behind the nation's four dead queens. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

A world of water is all seventeen-year-old Tempe has ever known. When the Great Waves destroyed her planet, its people had to learn to survive living on the water. Relics of the old world hold great value, so Tempe spends her days diving through drowned cities to scavenge anything of value to trade for notes. But it's not food or riches Tempe is after, but the chance to buy back her dead sister's life for 24 hours. But it's not a heartfelt reunion Tempe is after. Her sister died keeping a terrible secret, and she wants answers.

While lying in the hospital in a place called Kansas, Princess Dorthea of Emerald struggles to regain her memory of the events that propelled her out of the land of Story - and to remember how to get home. Meanwhile, in Story, Rexi, with the help of Excalibur, continues to gain confidence in writing her own tale as she fights to save the land from the Wicked Witch. But as is always the case with evil villains, she is not to be underestimated. Can Dorthea and Rexi save their home while protecting the prince they both love from getting caught in the crossfire?

Fairy Tale Survival Rule #32: If you find yourself at the mercy of a wicked witch, sing a romantic ballad and wait for your Prince Charming to save the day. Yeah, no thanks. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks - like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the not-so-charming prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future. Talk about unhappily ever after. Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving the kingdom in chaos and her parents stuck in some place called "Kansas." Now it's up to Dorthea and her pixed off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse...before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story.

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.

Fairy-Tale Survival Rule No. 52: No matter how difficult the obstacles or all-powerful the evil villain, one can rest assured that the hero of the story never dies. The sidekicks though...they should be worried. Rexi Hood is proud to be an outlaw. After all, she's the daughter of the infamous Robin Hood. But sidekick? Accomplice? Sorry, that wasn't in her story description. Yeah, she and Princess Dorthea of Emerald have been inseparable since they teamed up to fight the wickedest witch. But if Rexi doesn't figure out how to break the curse that binds them, forget being overshadowed by the spirited princess, Rexi's going to become a Forgotten, wiped from the pages of Story and reduced to a puddle of ink. Not happening. No way in Spell.

Not for the fainted-hearted! The creatures of the magical rainforest of Caldera needs the help of a young panther cub, Mez. With the help of a brave young bat, a knowledgeable frog and a somewhat nervous monkey, Mez travels through the rainforest to combat a dangerous and reawakened evil. This is a suspenseful and exciting novel.

The unforgettable lyrics about the Vietnam War are etched in our memories and brought to life in this picture book.

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Prior is missing three things: a mother, a father and a voice. Her only companions are the ghouls she sees and her mother's journal, which captured a mind in turmoil. Until she receives a letter from an uncle she's never met, summoning her to his estate - Gallant. But when she arrives, she discovers her uncle is dead and the estate is empty, save for her cousin Matthew and the servants. Gallant is a house of secrets. Olivia searches for answers about her family, her past, she discovers a dark reflection of everything she knew, an ancient realm where ghosts take form and the dark master sits waiting for her... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

This book offers an exciting and interesting approach to drawing buildings and cityscapes. It includes detailed, step-by-step instructions and useful advice on composition and drawing techniques.

Sophie and Josh Newman find their lives intertwined with Nicholas Flamel and the powerful book he protects, the Book of Abraham the Mage, that enables the holder to save or destroy the world.

Nicholas Flamel is near death, John Dee has the swords of power and the twins of prophecy are at the point of fulfilling the legend 'One to save the world, one to destroy it'.

Sophie and Josh Newman flee to Paris with Flamel and Scatty, with Dr Dee on their heels. Dee enlists the help of Niccolo Machiavelli to capture them, whilst Sophie learns Fire Magic and Josh seeks one who can awaken his powers.

Nicholas Flamel is dying and the spell from the Codex that renews his immortality is in the possession of the evil Dr John Dee. Flamel hopes to use his remaining power to prevent the monsters, now on the island of Alcatraz, from escaping. Twins, Sophie and Josh, are back in San Francisco, where Sophie is kidnapped by Aoife and Josh is beginning to doubt whether he is on the right side of things.

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.

The Dark Elders are summoning as many evil immortals and Elders as possible to capture the twins of legend and retrieve the missing pages of the Codex. The Flamels are gathering allies to fight against them, including some characters presumed dead.

The twins of prophecy have been divided and the end is drawing near. Josh is standing alongside John Dee and Virginia Dare on Alcatraz, while Sophie is in San Francisco with the Flamels and other immortals.

It's the first day of Grade Ten, and Winifred is going to reinvent herself. Now that her two best (and only) friends have transferred to a private school, Win must navigate high school on her own. Luckily, she isn't alone for long. In art class, she meets Oscar and April. They don't look or act like the typical teenagers in her town: they're creative, a little rebellious and seem comfortable in their own skin in a way that Win can only dream of. But even though Winifred is breaking out of her shell, there's one secret she can't bear to admit to April and Oscar, or even to herself - and this lie threatens everything. Win needs to face her own truths, but she doesn't need to do it alone. Through the healing power of clandestine sleepovers, op-shopping and zine publishing, Win finds and accepts what it means to be herself. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess - a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner. For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside. Then, one night the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.

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.

Princess Theodosia was a prisoner in her own country for a decade. Renamed the Ash Princess, she endured relentless abuse and ridicule from the Kaiser and his court. But though she wore a crown of ashes, there is fire in Theo's blood. As the rightful heir to the Astrean crown, it runs in her veins. And if she learned nothing else from her mother, she learned that a Queen never cowers. Now free, with a misfit army of rebels to back her, Theo must liberate her enslaved people and face a terrifying new enemy: the new Kaiserin. Imbued with a magic no one understands, the Kaiserin is determined to burn down anyone and everything in her way. With more at stake than ever, Theo must learn to embrace her own power if she has any hope of standing against the girl she once called her heart's sister. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 & above

The Kaiser murdered Theodosia's mother, the Fire Queen, when Theo was only six. He took Theo's country and kept her prisoner, crowning her Ash Princess - a pet to toy with and humiliate for ten long years. That era has ended. The Kaiser thought his prisoner weak and defenceless. He didn't realise that a sharp mind is the deadliest weapon. Theo no longer wears a crown of ashes. She has taken back her rightful title, and a hostage - Prinz Soren. But her people remain enslaved under the Kaiser's rule, and now she is thousands of miles away from them and her throne. To get them back, she will need an army. Only, securing an army means she must trust her aunt, the dreaded pirate Dragonsbane. And according to Dragonsbane, an army can only be produced if Theo takes a husband. Something an Astrean Queen has never done. Theo knows that freedom comes at a price, but she is determined to find a way to save her country without losing herself. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 & above,

Arriving in unfamiliar territory, Ash finds his stepbrother Bly living with Mona, her dog, a goat and an isolated community who call themselves the Canaries. They've been abandoned by society through a sickness no one understands. When Ash falls ill too, the doctor's response is, "it's all in your mind". But Ash uncovers something much bigger: the sickness of the world. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Before his grandmother moved from India to the island of Mariposa, Muki Krishnan's life was pretty good. He hung out with his friends, stayed under the radar at school, and slept as late as he could. But now? He has to share his bedroom with Paati, his grandmother, who snores all night then wakes him at dawn to do yoga. Paati's arrival coincides with bigger challenges in Mariposa as the once peaceful island is fracturing. The president divides the people into those who have lived here for 3 or more generations (Butterflies) or more recent immigrants like Muki's family (Moths). Muki and his friends find the camp that is being built to imprison Moths and then Paati is taken away. A rebellion is under way but can Muki save Paati and his family in time and what can one school boy do against a whole government?

Hugo is an orphan, clock keeper and thief, living in a Parisian railway station at the turn of the nineteenth century. The story, in words and pictures, includes the invention of the earliest moving pictures and automatons. A hidden message from a dead father is the key to this spellbinding mystery.

After surviving a shipwreck in 1766, Billy Marvel finds work in a London theatre. His family flourishes for generations as brilliant actors until 1900, when young Leontes Marvel is banished from the stage. Nearly a century later, Joseph Jarvis runs away from school and seeks refuge with an eccentric uncle in London. A gripping adventure and an intriguing invitation to decipher how the two narratives interconnect.

In 1941, fifteen year old Lina is preparing for art school and looking forward to summer. When the Soviet secret police invade her home and forcibly remove Lina, her mother and brother, they must fight for their lives. They are transported via cattle trucks from Lithuania to remote Siberia in a harrowing, violent journey. It is also a story of incredible courage and strength. Includes violence and cruelty. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Cristian has lived his entire life in the grip of a repressive dictatorship. The country is governed by fear. When the secret police blackmail him, Cristian has an impossible choice. Save the life of his sick grandfather by informing on his family, or risk his life - and all of theirs - by resisting? At 17, Cristian dreams of being free but doesn't know where to turn. In this climate of constant suspicion, can he trust his best friend, his girlfriend or even his family? Closely based on the real events of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, this is a powerful, heart-breaking thriller from the author of Salt to the Sea, winner of the Carnegie Medal.

Set in a New York of the not-too-distant future, the sweltering, thirsty citizens attempt to cope with the extreme heat as the end of the world approaches. A female artist and her neighbour are helpless against the elements and the armed looters. But, in the Twilight Zone, there's always a twist.

How can maths help you to kick the perfect penalty goal, win an argument, impress your friends and spot fake news? With easy-to-understand maths logic, simple psychology and engaging anecdotes from her own life, mathematician Lily Serna shows us that maths can unlock the secrets of the universe. She wants to help all of us - especially the maths phobic - embrace the maths that surrounds us and solve the most common problems of modern living - all without making us learn a single formula. Well, maybe just one or two friendly ones . . Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Excerpts from some of the most well-known Shakespearean plays are compiled in this book.

The night the Nazis come to take their mother away, three children escape in a terrifying scramble across the rooftops. In the chaos of Warsaw, they have to learn to survive on their own. Their father's paperknife becomes their symbol of hope.

Black Beauty is a handsome, sweet-tempered colt with a strong spirit. As a young colt, he is free to gallop in the fresh meadows with his beloved mother and their kind master. But, when his owners are forced to sell him, Black Beauty goes from a life of comfort and kindness to one of hard labour and cruelty. But, Black Beauty is brave, with an unbreakable spirit and will.

On a dark winter night, a ghost walks the ramparts of Elsinore Castle in Denmark. Discovered first by a pair of watchmen, then by the scholar Horatio, the ghost resembles the recently deceased King Hamlet, whose brother Claudius has inherited the throne and married the king's widow, Queen Gertrude. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Two tribunes, Flavius and Murellus, find scores of Roman citizens wandering the streets, neglecting their work in order to watch Julius Caesar's triumphal parade: Caesar has defeated the sons of the deceased Roman general Pompey, his archrival, in battle. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An argument in a street in Venice fuels grudges and passionate jealousies. Military heroism and love; the nature of appearance and reality; the dangers of isolation, jealousy and betrayal are explored. Masks may hide some characters' true motives but the real emotions of Othello and Iago are dramatically revealed. Graphic (Manga) novel with authentic Shakespearean text.Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Set in medieval times, Richard III seizes the English crown by plotting the murders of his brother, his nephew and niece, the sons of his brother King Edward IV and poisoning his own wife. A scheming and seductive rogue is portrayed in one of the bloodiest chapters of the British monarchy. Graphic novel llustrated by Patrick Warren. Graphic (Manga) novel with authentic Shakespearean text. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Shakespeare's most famous love story of revenge, violence and tragedy. Romeo, a rock star, falls in love with Juliet and Verona becomes a street in Tokyo's highly fashionable Shibuya district. The star-crossed lovers are caught up in a feud between two Yakuza, Japanese mafia, families which erupts into violence and killing. Graphic (Manga) novel with authentic Shakespearean text. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In an enchanted moonlit forest in modern Athens, meddlesome fairies play havoc with the lives and loves of four young Athenian lovers and a troupe of amateur actors. Graphic (Manga) novel with authentic Shakespearean text. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Set in a future post-nuclear world reclaimed by Samurai warriors, three witches plant the seed of criminal ambition in the warlord, Macbeth. Spurred on by Lady Macbeth, he embarks on a killing spree of former friends and rivals until, in a final confrontation, he realises too late that the witches have deceived him. Graphic (Manga) novel with authentic Shakespearean text. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Prospero, robbed of his dukedom, has been marooned for many years on a wild island with his daughter, Miranda. He applies his magic skills to contrive a shipwreck and take revenge on his usurping brother and the faction who exiled him. But, it is the power of love that finally triumphs. Graphic (Manga) novel with authentic Shakespearean text. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

An unconventional love story transposed to modern-day China where rural and urban worlds collide, following the trials and tribulations of the characters from court to country in their quest for love. Graphic (Manga) novel with authentic Shakespearean text. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

One of Shakespeare's greatest and, in recent years, most controversial plays. After borrowing a large sum of money from the Jewish money-lender Shylock, the merchant Antonio faces a devastating credit crunch when his fleet of ships is sunk in a storm. Shylock insists on the small print of his terms and conditions, seeking a literal 'pound of flesh'. Usually read by students in year 9,10, and above.

In one of Shakespeare's funniest, most enduring stories, meddling fairies create unexpected love triangles among a group of teenagers. Hermia is in love with Lysander. Demetrius is in love with Hermia. Helena is in love with Demetrius. Add to the mix Puck, a fairy with a powerful love potion, and chaos is sure to follow. Now everyone's in love with Helena, Hermia is hopping mad, and the fairy queen Titania is in love with a man with a donkey's head! Using the style and visual language of manga, Kate Brown transforms Shakespeare's world into something new and vibrant. It's the perfect introduction to Shakespeare's work for reluctant readers and manga fans alike. Usually read by students in Years 9,10, or above

In Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice and Benedick trade insults and fall in love in the sunny Italian court of the Duke -- but the Duke's brother has devious plans to ruin the happy mood. Manga readers can now enjoy the wit and drama of these plays firsthand. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10, or above

A soothsayer warns Julius Caesar but Caesar, grown arrogant on military victory, assumes the people will acclaim his dictatorship. Staunch republicans, Brutus and Cassius, conspire to assassinate him. Civil war follows, as Antony and Ocatavius seek revenge. Graphic (manga) novel with authentic Shakespearean text. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

It is 2017. Climate change has devastated the Earth which is now a cyberworld in constant dread of war. Denmark has grown prosperous but the King has recently died. Young Prince Hamlet's grief over his father's death turns to something far darker when the ghost of his father appears to him. Graphic (Manga) novel with authentic Shakespearean text. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Lear, the aging king of Britain, decides to step down from the throne and divide his kingdom evenly among his three daughters. First, however, he puts his daughters through a test, asking each to tell him how much she loves him. Goneril and Regan, Lear's older daughters, give their father flattering answers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A brave Scottish general named Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself. He is then wracked with guilt and paranoia. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Baptista Minola has two daughters that he wants to find husbands for. His younger daughter, Bianca, is sweet and quiet. There are many men who want to marry her. His older daughter, Katharina, is known for being wild and angry, and Baptista is worried no one will marry her. However, Baptista announces that Bianca cannot get married until Katharina gets married. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 & above.

The Tempest opens in the midst of a storm, as a ship containing the king of Naples and his party struggles to stay afloat. On land, Prospero and his daughter, Miranda, watch the storm envelop the ship. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 & above.

A Midsummer Night's Dream opens with Theseus and Hippolyta planning their wedding, which takes place in four days. Egeus enters with his daughter, Hermia, and her two suitors, Lysander and Demetrius. Hermia is in love with Lysander, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

William Shakespeare's Othello takes place in 16th-century Venice and also Cyprus. Othello who is a noble black warrior in the Venetian army that secretly married a beautiful white woman called Desdemona who is the daughter of a prominent senator named Brabantio. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Shakespeare's As You Like It can appear bright or sombre in performance: a feast of language and a delight for comic actors; or a risk-taking exploration of gender roles. This updated edition provides an account of what makes this popular play both innocent and dangerous. There is a section on recent critical, stage and film interpretations of the play, an updated reading list and a new appendix on an early court performance of As You Like It in 1599. Mapping the complexities of the play's setting - a no man's land related to both France and England, the edition also includes detailed commentary on its language and an analytical account of performance. The text is usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

An exciting graphic novel version of William Shakespeare's great tragedy that faithfully follows the original play. The use of Shakespeare's original language, some violence and adult concepts require mature readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

A tale of young Bassanio, who, in order to win the love of fair Portia, entangles his dearest friend, Antonio, in a dangerous bargain with the moneylender, Shylock. Only Bassanio's heartfelt efforts and a clever intervention by Portia will save Antonio from paying Shylock 'a pound of flesh'. Graphic novel with authentic Shakespearean text.

King Leontes of Sicilia begs his childhood friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia, to extend his visit to Sicilia. Polixenes protests that he has been away from his kingdom for nine months, but after Leontes's pregnant wife, Hermione, pleads with him he relents and agrees to stay a little longer. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 & above.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is determined to gain the crown of England from his brother, the Yorkist King Edward IV. He woos the widow, Lady Ann at the funeral of her father-in-law, King Henry VI. She yields to his advances and marries him. Usually read by Students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Antonio, a Venetian merchant, complains to his friends of a melancholy that he cannot explain. His friend Bassanio is desperately in need of money to court Portia, a wealthy heiress who lives in the city of Belmont. Bassanio asks Antonio for a loan in order to travel in style to Portia's estate. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Romeo and Juliet fall in love at a party. But they come from families which hate each other. They are sure they will not be allowed to marry. Nevertheless, helped by Friar Laurence, they marry in secret instead. Unfortunately, before their wedding night Romeo kills Juliet's cousin in a duel, and in the morning he is forced to leave her. If he ever returns to the city, he will be put to death. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Claudio falls in love with Hero and their marriage is agreed upon. Beatrice and Benedick despise love and engage in comic banter. The others plot to make them fall in love with each other, by a trick in which Benedick will overhear his friends talking of Beatrice's supposed secret love for him, and vice versa. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Duke Orsino of Illyria is in love with Olivia, but his advances are rejected. A shipwrecked Viola arrives on his shores, and with the help of a Captain, disguises herself as a boy, calling herself Cesario, and enters Orsino's service. Orsino takes to Cesario, and sends 'him' to woo Olivia for him. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 & above.

Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It's the highest military honour in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program. It's not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the "greater good" that Bayt-Sajji's military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined. In this breathtaking and timely story, Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Sala's village survives at the edge of a lake, hidden by poison ivy, to keep them safe from giant water-ants and wyann trees, which spear passing prey with their roots. Everyone is safe as long as no-one goes out on the lake. The unexpected appearance of a space ship puts everyone in danger, stirring rivalries into a terrifying conflict set to change the world. Sala and her pet pointer must do whatever it takes to face the truth of who she is, to save her village, to save her family, to save herself.

Twelve year old Alice Makin is living in a tiny flat in post-war London where many people's homes have been destroyed. Reggie and the man he calls his grandfather come to live upstairs. Alice and Reggie become friends and realise that they share a special talent for making things that they think happen. This is not their only connection and as the story unfolds Alice learns about who she really is.

Arthur T. Owens grabbed a brick and hurled it at the trash picker. Arthur had his reasons, and the brick hit the Junk Man in the arm, not the head. But none of that matters to the judge-he is ready to send Arthur to juvie forever. Amazingly, it's the Junk Man himself who offers an alternative: 120 hours of community service... working for him. Arthur is given a rickety shopping cart and a list of the Seven Most Important Things: glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans, and mirrors. He can't believe it-is he really supposed to rummage through people's trash? But it isn't long before Arthur realizes there's more to the Junk Man than meets the eye, and the "trash" he's collecting is being transformed into something more precious than anyone could imagine. . . .

The epic battle between man and monster reaches its greatest pitch in the famous story of Frankenstein. In trying to create life, the young student Victor Frankenstein unleashes forces beyond his control, setting into motion a long and tragic chain of events that brings Victor himself to the very brink. How he tries to destroy his creation, as it destroys everything Victor loves, is a powerful story of love, friendship... and horror. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Friendship can be found in the unlikeliest of places. After her mother's death, Sky leaves her city life to move in with her aunt and uncle in a small Australian town. Life in a new place isn't easy, and Sky finds comfort in the friendship of a stray dog she meets along the way. But her new friends at school are another story, and as Sky struggles to fit in, she finds herself doing things that go against everything she believes in. When Sky stumbles on a case of animal cruelty, she is forced to question what's really important to her and who she wants to be. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

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

Caleb is an Atypical, an individual with enhanced abilities. Which sounds pretty cool except Caleb's ability is extreme empathy-he feels the emotions of everyone around him. Being an empath in high school would be hard enough, but Caleb's life becomes even more complicated when he keeps getting pulled into the emotional orbit of one of his classmates, Adam. Adam's feelings are big and all-consuming, but they fit together with Caleb's feelings in a way that he can't quite understand. Caleb's therapist, Dr. Bright, encourages Caleb to explore this connection by befriending Adam. As he and Adam grow closer, Caleb learns more about his ability, himself, his therapist-who seems to know a lot more than she lets on-and just how dangerous being an Atypical can be. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Sabine is an eighteen year old caught between two lives. Her life in Wellesey is the almost perfect world, a place of glamorous friends, all you could want and a doting boyfriend. Her other life in Roxbury is less than perfect and here she is considered by many as a rebel, out of place. Every twenty-four hours on the stroke of midnight, Sabine moves between worlds. 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.

Caden is both a high school student finding it harder and harder to fit in at school and keep friendships, and a member of an unusual crew aboard a ship headed to the Marianas Trench under the command of a captain who may or may not be trying to destroy them all. As these two narratives come together, Caden must make decisions with very real and substantial consequences.

Ash is used to taking hits on the field for his high school football team - until he takes one that doesn't just impact his body, but his whole reality. It starts with one small shift, but with every game, every hit, Ash finds himself pushed through a succession of universes almost-but-not-really like his own, until the small shifts in reality become significant shifts in Ash's own identity. As Ash experiences life from other perspectives, he starts to question the world he thought he knew, as well as the ones he finds himself catapulted into. For better or worse, the one thing Ash knows is that he's got to find a way to put things back.

In a future world where death and illness have become eliminated by a benevolent AI, the only death which the human race knows comes through the order of Scythes. Highly trained and held to a high moral code, these men and women have few boundaries. However, they are still human and are susceptible to corruption and ego. This is a collection of stories about the various Scythes and their good, bad, and absurd moments as bringers of death.

In a perfect world, what is there left to fear? In a world where disease, war and crime have been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly gleaned (killed) by professional scythes. Citra and Rowan are 16 year old teenagers who have been selected to be scythes' apprentices, and despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation, they must learn the art of gleaning and understand the necessity of what they do. Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe's apprentice and as Citra and Rowan come up against a terrifyingly corrupt Scythedom, it becomes clear that the winning apprentice's first task will be to glean the loser. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

It's been a year since Rowan went off-grid. Hunted by the Scythedom, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. Citra, meanwhile, is forging her path as Scythe Anastasia, gleaning with compassion. However, conflict within the Scythedom is growing by the day, and when Citra's life is threatened, it becomes clear that there is a truly terrifying plot afoot. The Thunderhead observes everything, and it does not like what it sees. Will it intervene? Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

t's been three years since Rowan and Citra disappeared; since Scythe Goddard came into power; since the Thunderhead closed itself off to everyone but Grayson Tolliver. In this pulse-pounding finale to Neal Shusterman's internationally bestselling trilogy, constitutions are tested and old friends are brought back from the dead. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Thanks to Connor, Lev, and Risa - and their high-profile revolt at Happy Jack Harvest Camp - people can no longer turn a blind eye to unwinding. Ridding society of troublesome teens while simultaneously providing much-needed organs for transplanting might be convenient, but its morality has finally been brought into question. However, unwinding has become big business, and there are powerful political and corporate interests that want to see it not only continue, but also expand to the unwinding of prisoners and the impoverished. Cam is made entirely out of the parts of other unwinds; he is a teen who does not technically exist. A futuristic Frankenstein, Cam struggles to find identity and meaning and wonders if a rewound being can have a soul. And when the actions of a sadistic bounty hunter cause Cam's fate to become inextricably bound with the fates of Connor, Risa, and Lev, he will have to question humanity itself. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Connor, Risa and Lev are running for their lives. Unwinding: the process by which a child is both terminated and yet kept alive. Unwinding is now a common, and accepted, practice in society. Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their 18th birthday, they can't be harmed - but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, is wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Isaac and Ivy are siblings and close in age yet seem to be on very different paths. Ivy is often in trouble and struggles to focus while Isaac is motivated and responsible and in control. A series of events bring both siblings to the attention of Addi and Roxy, pharmaceuticals become gods meddling in the affairs of humans. Both drugs offer so much to the brother and sister, but they will also demand something in return. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Australians from a wide range of cultural backgrounds served together during the First World War. They wore the same uniform and experienced the same conditions and hardships. For many, wartime service gave them the equality that was not available in Australian society, either before or after the war. These stories about multicultural ANZACS draw on the Australian War Memorial's diverse collection, and include private records, photographs, works of art and relics.

Cricket Karlsson is going to become an artist just like her aunt, who loves cheese and art and always speaks her mind. Not like Cricket's mother, who is dieting and sighs at everything. But now Aunt Frannie has lost her joy and Cricket's best friend has dumped her for the horse girls. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Twelve-year-old Liam McKenzie patrols his suburban neighbourhood as the Masked Avenger - a superhero with powers so potent not even he can fully comprehend their extent. Along with his sidekick, Richie the Powerbeagle, he protects the people of Franklin Street from chaos, mayhem, evil and low tyre pressure - but can he save them from sadness?

Rachel is German and Jewish. With the outbreak of World War II, her life is changed. The family is forced to move from their comfortable home into cramped housing and, when the Nazis arrive, they don't know what is to become of them. But, Rachel's father gives her instructions that save her life. He also tells her not to speak.

A Monster Calls meets Coraline, in this spellbinding story about the power of the imagination. The real world is a hostile place for twelve-year-old Bren, his schooldays stalked by vicious bully, Shaun, and his family life fractured at home. Ever since his sister Evie died in an accident, Bren's only safe space is Furthermoor, an imagined world of mechanised trees and clockwork animals, where Evie is still alive. In Furthermoor, no one can hurt Bren...until the mysterious Featherly arrives. Now Bren is forced to confront his deepest fears and decide if his place in the real world is worth fighting for. Enter a world as vast and dark as your imagination, in this unforgettable coming-of-age story about courage, friendship and finding your voice.

Mhairi is walking to Scotland. She has to get there, has to find safety in her grandmother's house. But all she has is a gun with no bullets and her precious identity papers. In this dystopian new world, the journey from the African continent to the top of the UK is fraught with danger. When Mhairi comes across a lone, mute boy she finds kindness within her to help him to safety as well, even though this could jeopardise everything she is working towards.

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.

Kieran finds the body of a homeless person floating in the Thames River. The police regard the death as an unfortunate accident but Kieran is obsessed with CSI and determined to find the murderer. Kieran's methodical note taking, his outstanding artistic abilities and unshakeable perseverance eventually provide many answers, not only to the murder but also to secrets in his own family.

The story of Muhammad Ali, formerly Cassius Clay, a legendary hero who was an American prize-winning boxer and heavyweight champion of the world. This rap version of Ali's life includes his religion, his marriages and graphic descriptions of his brutal fights with examples of his provoking and inflammatory language. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Thirteen year old Oskari is sent into the Finnish wilderness, armed only with a bow and arrow, to survive in an ancient test of manhood. But, he stumbles upon an escape pod from a burning airliner. Terrorists have shot down the President of the United States. To survive, this improbable duo must trust each other and become a team capable of overcoming the danger that is imminent.

Luxe Revelle, star of her family's fantastical show, knows the splendor is just an illusion. With Prohibition threatening their livelihood, her family struggles to make a living, watering down champagne and patching holes in their sequined costumes. So when the son of Charmant's wealthiest family makes her an offer - everything the Revelles need to stay in business, in exchange for posing as his girl and helping him become mayor - she can't refuse. The moment Jamison Port sets foot in Charmant, he can't shake the feeling of familiarity. An orphan with as few memories as gemstones, he's desperate to learn what happened to his parents. But as he delves into the island's secrets, he risks angering the wrong person and discovering a truth that just might break his heart. When Luxe and Jamison accidentally meet, the sparks that fly are more than her magical enchantments. But keeping secrets from powerful people is a dangerous game . . . one that could destroy them both.

There are lights on the horizon. Electricity. A return to civilization. Finn and Kas have been living in isolation, in hiding and by their wits for three years. Now they hope that at last they will find a life without danger, without threat and without the virus. But the tracking device beneath Kas's skin begins to buzz-she can't ignore that she is a Siley, a slave , and will never be free. When the search parties arrive they discover their new reality is a world divided by fences where they can't be together. But after everything they have been through, they are not about to play by the rules. 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.

Since a deadly virus and the ensuing violence wiped out his parents and his community, Finn and his loyal dog have survived two winters on the rugged coast. He avoids the Wilders, a dangerous gang, led by the ruthless Ramage. But, when Rose runs onto the beach, she needs Finn's help. She is a Siley, an asylum seeker, who has escaped from Ramage. Rose is desperate and sick, and her younger sister is still missing in the bush. Ramage wants them back, at any cost. Challenging read. Usually read by 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.

From rusting rocket ships to crumbling opulent palaces belonging to former dictators, this atlas journeys across fifty remarkable sites across the world. No longer in their heyday, these sites are abandoned and eerily different to what they once were. Each site has its own story to share.

It is 1654 in New England, native land of Algonquin tribes, among them the Pocasset, Wampanoag, and Narrangansett people. The pilgrims, called Coat-men by the Wampanoag, have settled here in the natives' territory at Patuxit, a place that the Pilgrims have renamed Plymouth. Weetamoo's father, Corbitant, is sachem, or chief, of the Pocassets. He is mistrustful of the colonists and imparts his beliefs about them to his daughter, who is next in line to become chief. Weetamoo must learn the fundamental values and disciplines of a true Pocasset chief.

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

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.

Josh, a poet, visits his great aunt for a week in a rural town and has to endure some strange treatment.

John Sumner is a young boy crippled after contracting polio and growing up during World War I. He learns about taking risks and letting go to experience life.

An intense story about the developing, close relationship between Justin, an Australian boy, and Rudi, a sensitive boy from Austria. Their emotional interdependence causes trouble in their peer group as others question the nature of the relationship. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

If you love numbers and like to laugh, then you'll enjoy finding out the crucial role that numbers play in our understanding of sport, space, computers, cooking, and a whole lot in between. This book decodes barcodes, explains why we say 'as sixes and sevens' when we're discombobulated, shows how many people you need in a room before there'll be a birthday in common, and why the number seventy is weird and what can be done about it. A whole lot more weird and wonderful stuff.

If you love numbers, want to love numbers or just love to laugh and learn about the wonderful life we live, then this numbers book is for you. Discover primes, Pi, perfect numbers and how many ribs an elephant has.

A story told from two points of view: Jake, then Lily, telling two sides to similar events. They know that together they are a powerful force, but that they have to learn how to stand alone as well.

From the moment Stargirl arrives at Mica High School, the students are enchanted but, then, they turn on her because she is so extraordinary.

The violence of the pigeon shoot disturbs Palmer and contrasts with his reaction to bullies and to pets.

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.

As a baby, fourteen year old Tristan was left at a monastery never knowing his parents. Joining the Knights Templar, Tristan is plunged into extraordinary adventures. His master entrusts Tristan with the legendary Holy Grail, instructing him to take it to Scotland. Tristan's enemies will do anything to claim the Grail.

Tristan and his companions have escaped to England. Many obstacles still prevent them from delivering the Holy Grail into safe hands. Tristan must defeat the evil Sir Hugh in one final battle. And, he must learn the secret of his birth, a secret Richard the Lionheart and Eleanor of Aquitaine are willing to kill to protect.

Washed up on a foreign shore, Tristan is lucky to be alive. The Holy Grail, that the young Templar squire is safe-guarding, has saved his life yet again. Now lost in a strange land, he doesn't know if his friends have survived. Tristan's knack for getting into trouble is alive and well, and he is quickly drawn into a conflict.

Friday is not running away. Yes, she did get on a train to Norway without telling anyone where she was going - but she had to help Binky. He may or may not have been attacked by a polar bear. Now he's facing court martial for dereliction of duty. Obviously, Friday had to drop everything and travel 3000 kilometres to solve the case. The fact that it's easier to handle her feelings for Ian Wainscott if there's a continent between them is just a coincidence. When Friday arrives in Oslo, there are so many mysteries to solve. Is someone trying to keep Binky and Princess Ingrid apart? How can a painting leave a museum when all the doors are sealed? And will Melanie persuade Friday to go to the royal ball without wearing a brown cardigan? If Friday survives her trip to the remote Global Seed Vault, we may find out.

Friday Barnes has a new case and it's personal. Her mother, a physicist, has been kidnapped. When a beautiful, rich, new student, Princess Ingrid of Norway arrives, Highcrest Academy is thrown into chaos. Despite heightened security, things start to go missing. And the Princess has her eye on Ian Wainscott. Friday must crack the case of her missing mother, reign in a royal brat and unmask the elusive thief.

Friday Barnes is forced to face her biggest fear, her own emotions. She must wave goodbye to Ian as he takes off to join his father in the Cayman Islands. But, when your dad is a white-collar criminal, family reunions never go to plan. Ian is kidnapped en route and it's up to Friday to rescue him. On her return to school, the Headmaster has a treat in store, a four-week camp for students to learn wilderness survival skills. Camp Courage is even worse than Friday imagined. All her book smarts aren't much help when she's got wood to chop, potatoes to peel and latrines to dig.

When Friday Barnes solves a bank robbery, she uses the reward money to send herself to the most exclusive boarding school in the country. But, she is shocked to discover her new school is actually a hotbed of crime. Friday must solve the mystery of the disappearing homework and the Yeti in the school swamp. And Friday must work out why good-looking Ian Wainscott who seems to hate her, loves playing pranks on her.

Friday's days at Highcrest are numbered! The new headmaster is turning everything upside down. Friday's irritatingly high IQ has her fast-tracked to graduation while a pair of incriminating pants puts Ian on the rocky road to expulsion. When a rumour emerges of embezzled gold stashed on the school grounds, Friday is determined to uncover the truth. But some big questions remain- Can she stay out of detention long enough to solve the mystery? Will Melanie survive without Friday to tell her what class she's in? And will Friday ever get that first kiss with Ian? With implosions and explosions everywhere, Friday Barnes will have to use her head and get a grip on her beating heart in order to find the gold that lies within.

It's two years later . . . Friday steps out of prison, a shell of her former self. She's still wearing the same brown cardigan, but she swears she's never solving mysteries again! Yeah right - who is she kidding? She can't suppress her brilliant deductive mind and is soon drawn back into the intrigues of Highcrest Academy. Then Uncle Bernie rings, pleading with Friday to fly to Italy and help him protect the Uffizi Galleries from a team of art thieves - and she can't say "no" to family. Even if it means travelling to the city where Ian, her ex-boyfriend/nemesis is living. Will Friday be able to protect Italy's finest artworks? Will Melanie stay awake long enough to help her? And will Ian still be as gorgeous as a Greek god and twice as annoying?

Friday Barnes has been deported to Switzerland. With their in-school detective gone, Highcrest Academy has descended into chaos. Someone's fired all the teachers and the Headmaster claims it wasn't him. When suspicion falls on Ian Wainscott, Friday won't stand by and let her favourite nemesis take the blame. Apart from probably being innocent, he's also seriously good-looking. Friday must try to save Ian's scholarship and find the pranksters before they bring down the school.

When Friday Barnes cracked the case of the mysterious swamp yeti, she didn't expect to be placed under arrest. Now with the law on her back and Ian Wainscott in her face, Friday is not so sure boarding school was the smartest choice. From a missing or not-so-missing calculator to the appearance of strange holes in the school field, she is up to her pork-pie hat in crimes. There's also a new boy called Christopher.

When four former headmasters arrive at Highcrest Academy to take part in the school's anniversary celebrations, the students are warned to be on their best behaviour. Unfortunately, no one told the headmasters to stay out of mischief too! Which means Friday Barnes soon has a case to solve. But unravelling the truth isn't easy when the whole school is being forced to eat paleo because the cook is on a diet; her best friend's brother won't stop blubbering about the terrible boat accident he may or may not have caused; and Friday is being trailed by a mysterious admirer- or is it a stalker? Can Friday find the facts among the mayhem? She'd better. The fate of Highcrest depends on it!

Friday Barnes is being attacked on all counts. When she gets involved in her frenemy Ian Wainscott's family dispute, it appears her knack for uncovering the truth may ruin their friendship once and for all. No one said high school would be easy.

Someone stole the Mona Lisa. Okay, it was over a hundred years ago, but a recently uncovered letter reveals that the thief forged a copy. That means that the painting in the Louvre now is a fake. And the real Mona Lisa could be anywhere! Friday Barnes needs to find the truth - and the real painting. She's going undercover as an art student, along with her partner-in-crime-solving, Melanie, and her staggeringly good-looking boyfrenemy, Ian. As they watch the comings and goings of France's most famous art gallery, they see some very strange things. Amid digital pickpockets, guerrilla graffiti and projectile perfume, Friday soon discovers that the Paris art scene is a hotbed of crime.

Selby has mastered the art of going unnoticed and seems happy avoiding most school work and friendship dramas in this way. All goes well until her school contacts Selby's parents and they are not happy. With the help of her tutor, Selby finds herself not just reading Hamlet, but trying to help him understand his misery and murderous inclinations.

When Sherlock Holmes' right-hand man, Dr Watson, goes missing everyone is in shock. Enola Holmes, Sherlock's sister, is determined to investigate and find Watson. With her knowledge of floral language, she notices the arrangements delivered to Mrs Watson are symbols for death. Enola is a resourceful sleuth who needs to use her courage, wits, and cunning to solve the mystery before it is too late, all the while avoiding discovery by her brother.

Enola Holmes's lonely London days are shaken up when her dear landlady, Mrs. Tupper, is kidnapped! As Enola pursues clues in her search for Mrs. Tupper, she finds that Florence Nightingale and her own brother - Sherlock Holmes - are involved. Soon Enola finds herself jumping out of windows, deciphering a mysterious code, and putting her hidden dagger to use - and she won't rest until poor Mrs. Tupper is safe at home!

As Enola searches for the missing Lady Blanchefleur del Campo, she discovers that her brother Sherlock is just as diligently searching for Enola herself. He needs her help to decipher a message from their long-lost mother. Sherlock, Enola, and their brother, Mycroft, must solve a triple mystery: What has happened to their mother? And to Lady Blanchefleur? And what does either have to do with Mycroft, who holds Enola's future in his hands?

Enola is hiding from her brothers in London. Her mother is still missing, from book one, and while she is trying to work out what has happened to her mother, she hears about the disappearance of a young girl and knows that her bag of tricks, so well developed thanks to the lessons provided by observing her big brother, will help her solve the case.

If you love a mystery and know who Sherlock Holmes is, then you will love this story of his lesser known 14 year old sister, Enola. When her mother vanishes, she calls on her older brothers to help her solve the mystery. However, instead of helping, they start talking about ridiculous things like needlepoint lessons and new frocks. Enola realises she will need to disappear herself if she is going to find her mother.

Enola is thrown into a tailspin when she receives a desperate message from her old friend, Lady Cecily. Enola knows she must help her friend before it's too late - but she doesn't know how! This complicated case has Enola hunting down clues all over London until she finally discovers the awful truth: Lady Cecily is being held prisoner! Enola must risk her own freedom and join forces with her brother, the famed Sherlock Holmes, to free Cecily. Can Enola trust her brother, and can they save Cecily in time?

Enola Holmes is the much younger sister of her more famous brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft. But she has all the wits, skills, and sleuthing inclinations of them both. When a young professional woman, Miss Letitia Glover, shows up on Sherlock's doorstep, desperate to learn more about the fate of her twin sister, it is Enola who steps up. It seems her sister, the former Felicity Glover, married the Earl of Dunhench and per a curt note from the Earl, has died. But Letitia Glover is convinced this isn't true. The Earl's note is suspiciously vague and the death certificate is even more dubious, so Enola goes undercover, soon finding out that this is not the first of the Earl's wives to die suddenly and vaguely - and that the secret to the fate of the missing Felicity is tied to a mysterious black barouche that arrived at the Earl's home in the middle of the night.

Enola Holmes, the much younger sister of Sherlock, is now living independently in London and working as a scientific perditorian (a finder of persons and things). But that is not the normal lot of young women in Victorian England. They are under the near absolute control of their nearest male relative until adulthood. Such is the case of Enola's friend, Lady Cecily Alastair. Twice before Enola has rescued Lady Cecily from unpleasant designs of her caddish father, Sir Eustace Alastair, Baronet. And when Enola is brusquely turned away at the door of the Alastair home it soon becomes apparent that Lady Cecily once again needs her help.

Enola Holmes is a young girl from the 1890's trying to solve a mystery case before her brother Sherlock solves it first. A fast past mystery full of historical notes about friendships, disguises and sibling relationships.

Any five 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 of the screen.

The iconic ballet Swan Lake, the tragic love story of a princess transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer, has been revered for more than a century. In this atmospheric adaptation, Anne Spudvilas reimagines the classic tale of passion, betrayal and heartbreak in the dramatic riverscape of the Murray-Darling.

Gyssha Blackbone, the evil witch of Black Oak Cottage, is dead, killed by her kin, Aleida Blackbone. She has left behind a curse, and the evil monsters she constructed still lurk amongst the trees. A young servant girl unwittingly has been called into service of Aleida only to discover a cursed mistress and an angry warlock who are more powerful than Elodie could ever have imagined. But who sent the letter offering the position to Elodie, and now that she's here, is danger and power better than the home she left where her step father terrorised her and treated her as a slave? All Elodie knows is that her new mistress needs her, Aleida is weak from the curse and the warlock will destroy them both if they do not repay the dead witch's debt. It is not long before Elodie is battling terrors that she could never have imagined existed, both her and Aleida standing together against unspeakable evil that only they can stop.

Growing up in vibrant, crowded Nairobi to loving parents, Makena's driving dream is to accompany her wonderful mountain guide father climbing Mt Kenya. But when her beautiful world is shattered she is plunged into the darkness of the city, with a thousand ways to fall, each more deadly than any crevasse. In a world full of strangers should she trust Snow, whose ballet dreams are haunted by a past she is still running from? And is the sparkling fox a friend or a figment of her imagination? After a fresh start in the Scottish Highlands turns bad, Makena flees to the mountains. But will that end her or be the making of her?

When a landslide on the Jurassic Coast reveals a rare 'dragon' dinosaur, best friends Kat Wolfe and Harper Lamb are thrilled, especially when stars and scientists come flocking to sleepy Bluebell Bay. But after they begin investigating a suspicious death, events spiral quickly out of control for detectives Wolfe and Lamb. Worse still, Kat's wild cat is in trouble. Can they solve the mystery - and save the cat's life - before it's too late?

After a break-in at their London home, Kat Wolfe and her veterinary-surgeon mum decide it's time to move to the country. Dr Wolfe's new job in idyllic Bluebell Bay comes with a condition: they have to adopt Tiny, a huge, near-wild Savannah, who resists Kat's best attempts at cat whispering. When she starts a pet-sitting agency to make pocket money, her troubles escalate. The owner of her first client, an Amazon parrot, vanishes from his fortified, gadget-filled mansion, leaving a half-packed suitcase and a mysterious parcel. The only person who shares Kat's conviction that he's the victim of foul play is Harper Lamb, the American daughter of a palaeontology professor. A language and coding whizz, Harper is laid up with two broken legs thanks to her racehorse. What starts out as mystery-solving holiday fun quickly turns deadly for Wolfe and Lamb. When all clues point to an army base, can they count on their unruly animal friends to save the day - and their lives?

Davy Crockett was a child of the frontier, where violence and danger were everywhere. A hunter, soldier and backwoods politician, he helped settle large swaths of the still-growing United States. In the process, he became an American legend, with his life and exploits dramatised, and often fictionalised, in film and TV.

Flushed with their multicultural cricketing success in NIPS XI, the team goes interstate to watch the Aussie team practise on the holiest turf in cricket, the MCG. They are also invited to an important cricket carnival.

The boys at North Illaba Primary School form a cricket team. The team includes students from different cultures and they combine to celebrate their common interests, not their diversities.

Hilly and her brother, Egg, were promised sunshine, plenty of food and someone to look after them. When they arrived from England, they were separated. Hilly was sent to a cruel orphanage in Adelaide. Includes mature themes and some strong language. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

From the shores of Anzac Cove and beyond, the Gallipoli peninsula was the place where thousands of men fought, suffered, endured or died during the eight months of occupation in 1915. For each of them, their nurses and their families, Gallipoli means something different.

What the friends first thought would be an adventure soon turns to disaster. The day after landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, more than 2000 Anzacs are dead. As the campaign drags on, life for Wally and Roy becomes a battle of endurance against a plucky enemy, a hostile landscape, flies, fleas, cold and disease.

In Tuscany, 1096 AD, Luca sees demons. He keeps quiet about what he sees to avoid another exorcism. He also has dreams that sometimes predict the future. When Luca dreams his father's murder, he vows to stop it coming true. Suzan has dreams too. Consigned with her mute mother to a life in a convent, Suzan has a vision of a boy with an ancient book that holds some inscrutable power. He will take her on an adventure that leads to places beyond their understanding. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

Two years ago, Bridge, Tabitha and Emily made a pact never to fight, ever. Now, in high school, they are still friends but things are changing. Bridge meets Sherm, Emily is getting lots of attention from Patrick and Tab wants to save the world. A plan that quickly spirals out of control threatens their friendship.

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs. Most dogs love to chase cars, but Enzo longs to race them.He learns about racing and the world around him by watching TV and by listening to the words of his best friend, Denny, an up-and-coming race car driver, and Denny's daughter, Zoe, his constant companion. Enzo finds that life is just like being on the racetrack-it isn't simply about going fast.Applying the rules of racing to his world, Enzo takes on his family's challenges and emerges a hero. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Rico is unusual. His head gets mixed up but Rico is brilliant at noticing little things - like the strange goings-on in the next apartment block. When his new and only friend, the gifted, anxious Oscar is kidnapped, Rico gets a chance to put all his special skills to the test in a violent, dangerous adventure.

August 9, 1945, began like any other day for 6 year old Sachiko. Her country was at war, she didn't have enough to eat. At 11:01 am, she was playing outdoors with four other children. Moments later, those children were all dead. An atomic bomb had exploded just a half mile away. A true story of a young girl who survived the atomic bomb and her long journey to find peace.

Jim Liddell is different from other thirteen year old boys, living in a world of imagination. He takes home the class pet, a mudlark called Mudlark. Its escape teaches Jim some lessons and helps him come to terms with his mother's death.

The personal stories of the last eighteen surviving veterans of the Gallipoli campaign. Almost ninety years after the commencement of World War I, we still support a march in honour of the ANZACs and respect their spirit.

The autobiographical highs and lows of a creative human's life in the world are captured in a collection of personal comics. Go on a journey of self discovery and appreciation with Noelle Stevenson. Usually read by students in year 9, 10 and above.

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are. But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

In one of the four stories in this book of Stevenson's classic horror stories, the cursed Dr Jekyll finds himself transformed by a scientific experiment into the evil Mr Hyde.

When young David Balfour's father dies and leaves him in poverty, he tracks down his Uncle Ebenezer to seek his inheritance. But, his uncle is a mean, nasty man with a dark family secret. David finds himself in terrible danger when he is kidnapped and taken prisoner on board a ship bound for slavery.

The Baron of Muddle Earth's only hope is an incompetent wizard, a boy, his dog, a cynical budgerigar, a not-very -big ogre and an intrepid silver teaspoon. Anything could happen in the land of pink, stinky hogs and exploding gas frogs.

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.

Barnaby Grimes is a tick-tock lad, running errands in his city, day and night, and high-stacking around the rooftops in search of new mysteries to solve. In this first adventure, Barnaby is swept up in a world of crooked doctors, poor and ill-advised patients, strange tonics and very expensive furs.

In Dickensian times, people were terrified of being buried alive, so they were left in their coffin with a wire, attached to a bell, tied to the little finger. Anyone still alive could wiggle their finger to summon help. One night, Barnaby takes a shortcut through a graveyard and is horrified to hear the tinkling of little bells.

Barnaby Grimes delivers letters and packages all over London. In the competitive world of early photography, the rewards are immense but so are the risks. After an experiment goes disastrously wrong, Barnaby finds himself on the trail of a mad chemist with a talent for disappearing into thin air.

After collecting a strange parcel from a deserted ship in the fog of the docks and delivering it to the local schoolmaster, Barnaby thinks he's earned a moment to sit on the rooftops and eat his favourite pasty. But, he soon realises that all is not well at the school.

Abandoned at birth in the perilous Deepwoods, Twig is brought up by woodtrolls. One night, Twig does what has never been done before, he strays from the path. He finds a nightmare world, but is driven on to discover his true identity.

Quint is travelling with his father, Wind Jackal, on a mission to track down and bring to justice Turbot Smeal, the man who started the fire that killed their family. Wind Jackal is consumed by his desire to capture Smeal and his judgement is flawed. His actions endanger the lives of his crew and his son.

Quint is the son of a sky pirate captain. He arrives in Sanctaphrax at the request of Linius Pallitax, the Most High Academe, who needs an apprentice he can trust to carry out a series of important tasks. Just how important, Quint is about to find out as he and Linius's only daughter, Maris, are plunged into the midst of a terrifying adventure.

Fleeing from the ruins of New Undertown, Rook Barkwater and his colleagues, the librarian knights, must lead the escaping population to a new life in the Free Glades. But perils aplenty are ahead for the crowd, not to mention some goblins with plans of their own. A dramatic and exciting conclusion to the Rook Barkwater sequence.

Nate Quarter, a young, lowly lamplighter in the phraxmines of the Eastern Woods, is propelled on an epic journey of self-discovery that encompasses tournaments, battles, revolutions and a final encounter with the Immortals themselves. The final tale in the Edge Chronicles series.

Fifty years after the floating city of Sanctaphrax was swept away, the Edgeworld has changed for the worse. Cruel shrykes are in control and slave labour is endemic. When a young apprentice knight-academic, Rook, sets out on a perilous journey through the Deepwoods, he meets a mysterious stranger living with the banderbears and is propelled right into the middle of a dangerous adventure, challenging the dark might of the Guardians of the Night.

A fantastic addition to the Edge Chronicles series. Four exciting tales include well-known characters from the Edgeworld.

Twig, the young sky pirate captain who had dared to sail over the Edge, returned with his memory shattered and his crew flung far and wide. But, to recover his memory and take action, Twig must first find his lost crew. This means a dangerous journey back into the Deepwoods and beyond.

Since his childhood in the Deepwoods, young Twig has always longed to soar above the forest canopy and explore the sky. Now a lowly crew-member on his father's sky pirate ship, the Stormchaser, his dream seems fulfilled. But, a much higher destiny awaits Twig as plots and treacheries bring the lofty city of Sanctaphrax to the point of disaster.

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.

High in the crumbling Palace of Statues, oily Vox Verlix, nominally the Most High Academe but no more than a prisoner in reality, is brewing a terrible plot to destroy the goblins and the shrykes at a stroke, leaving him free to take over once again. Rook Barkwater, a knight, stumbles upon the truth when he is taken captive and forced to work for Vox.

In the great floating city of Sanctaphrax, blizzards howl through the streets as the Edgeworld descends into endless winter. Quint, the son of a sky pirate, has just begun his flying training. But, when Quint breaks the rules and heads out to Open Sky on his own, he runs into the great sky leviathan known as a cloud-eater, and catastrophe is about to strike the Edgeworld.

Harriet, a giant Galapagos Island tortoise, is looked after and observed by Charles Darwin in his development of his daring theory of evolution and his book, the Origin of the Species. Cleverly written from Harriet's perspective.

The Moon is the only natural satellite of the Earth and, since prehistoric times, it has been an object of fascination. Even after man has walked on the moon, it has retained its romantic appeal. The fortieth anniversary of the Moon landing provides an opportunity to look at that historic journey and to view the Moon from historic, scientific, artistic, literary and musical angles.

Find out how Prince Siddhartha grew in knowledge and enlightenment to become Buddha, one of the greatest religious influences on the world.

Sam and Grace come together one Autumn having loved each other for years at a distance. Now they must fight to keep each other as Sam is drawn back to being a wolf.

The Bee-man is happy with his lot until he learns from a Junior Sorcerer that he was once something else and has been transformed. But what was he? The Bee-man sets out on a quest to discover the answer.

Jonathan Harker is travelling to Castle Dracula to see the Transylvanian noble, Count Dracula. The locals beg him not to go because, on the eve of St George's Day when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will come out. But, Jonathan goes to the Castle and his nightmare begins. A retelling of the classic story with striking, coloured illustrations and detailed, historical background information.

A two-day hiking trip through the Canadian Rockies sounds like hell to best friends Ashton and Vale for two very different reasons. Ashton, the class clown, would rather be gaming in his basement and eating junk food than hiking. Vale, a straight-A student who hikes in her own time, shudders at the thought of spending two days stuck with classmates who have relentlessly bullied her for the past few years. But when the two are separated from their classmates and an unexpected snowstorm hits, Ash and Vale find themselves with dwindling supplies and fighting for survival against bears, wolves, and the elements.

Five brothers were taught a different animal style of Kung-fu by the Grandmaster and each one uses it throughout their adventures. This is Hok's story, one of the brothers, who travels alone to the Shaolin temple where a secret is finally revealed to all.

Long, the dragon-style warrior, saw his temple burned, his brothers killed, and his siblings fleeing to the four winds. Now the five young warriors have reunited with Ying, the redeemed renegade who put all of these events in motion, and ShaoShu, the mousy street thief, to prevent the wily mantis Tonglong from taking over China.

For years Ying has been using his dragon style kung fu to gain vengeance over those who he feels have wronged him. The problem is that his whole life has been shrouded in mystery, even he does not know the truth behind his heritage.

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.

Little street urchin ShaoShu has always wanted to belong. His small size makes him an easy target. This little 'mouse' always needs to find a place to hide. When he is befriended by Hok and Ying, he thinks he has found a new family, and eagerly tags along as they continue on their travels, not knowing that his new friends are the most wanted criminals in China.

Maloa is a young monk trained in Monkey style Kung Fu. Maloa loves joking around but now finds himself all alone in the woods and being hunted by hostile soldiers. Suddenly, his life is not as much fun as it used to be.

Five brothers were taught a different animal style of Kung-fu by the Grandmaster and each one uses it throughout their adventures. One brother, Seh, is a snake-style master and a keeper of secrets who uses his attuned senses to collect information.

The ancient Canzghen Temple is destroyed, its secret scrolls stolen and all the warrior monks are dead except for the five youngest. Tiger is one monk who was trained in violence, in tiger-style Kung Fu. He works to reclaim the secret dragon scroll.

Vanessa Partidge lives with her dad, her brother and her ex-babysitter. Who just happens to be her dad's new wife. Her mother has disappeared with only sporadic contact. Vanessa isn't sure who she is and as she embarks on her usual family summer holiday at the beach, she starts to discover her own limits. Through a growing relationship with environmental activist Bodhi and a crush on her brother's best friend, Vanessa explores her sense of self. Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 & above.

This is the tale of story-loving Henrietta and her family who are struggling with illness in their new house by Nightingale Wood. Worse, Henrietta is starting to see mysterious figures and strange cats that seem to be calling her into the woods and beyond. What does it all mean and is it true what they say, does a witch really live in Nightingale Wood?

Cameron and his mum have been on the run for five years. His father is hunting them. At least, that's what Cameron has been told. When they settle in an isolated farmhouse, in the middle of nowhere, Cameron starts to see and hear things that aren't possible. Soon, he's questioning everything he thought he knew and, even, his sanity. Cameron must uncover the dark secrets buried in the past, before they tear him apart.

The Vendel and Verindal are enemies. So as Princess Vashta of the Vendel finishes her combat training, she hopes she will lead their forces into battle against her race's deadly enemy, The Verindal. But when Brandonin, the heir to the Verindal throne, comes to see her father, it's clear he desires peace not war. When a new enemy arises, striking at all who call their planet home, each race blames the other as they have been enemies for so long. Vashta seeks Brandonin's help in fighting this menace. But the Vendel and Verindal refuse to work together. Can they defeat this deadly threat themselves or will it mean the end of Verindon?

The magicians rule London, not altogether harmoniously. One magician's plot to take power, the hint of a resistance movement and a young apprentice magician's first magical exploits have this book moving at a fast pace.

Two years on Nathaniel is fourteen and has a responsible position in Whitehall. He is very pleased with his progress until he has to track down the perpetuators of a series of violent occurrences in London. They are widely believed to be the work of members of the mysterious Resistance who are working to remove the magicians from government. However, Nathaniel isn't so sure and he needs Bartimaeus's help.

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.

After leaving Lockwood & Co. at the end of The Hollow Boy, Lucy is a freelance operative, hiring herself out to agencies that value her ever-improving skills. One day she is pleasantly surprised by a visit from Lockwood, who tells her he needs a good Listener for a tough assignment. Penelope Fittes, the leader of the giant Fittes Agency wants them--and only them--to locate and remove the Source for the legendary Brixton Cannibal. They succeed in their very dangerous task, but tensions remain high between Lucy and the other agents. Even the skull in the jar talks to her like a jilted lover. What will it take to reunite the team? Black marketeers, an informant ghost, a Spirit Cape that transports the wearer, and mysteries involving Steve Rotwell and Penelope Fittes just may do the trick. But, in a shocking cliffhanger ending, the team learns that someone has been manipulating them all along... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Join Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly, and their associate Quill Kipps on a perilous night mission: they have broken into the booby-trapped Fittes Mausoleum, where the body of the legendary psychic heroine Marissa Fittes lies. Or does it? Will Lockwood ever reveal more about his family's past to Lucy? Will their trip to the Other Side leave Lucy and Lockwood forever changed? Will Penelope Fittes succeed in shutting down their agency forever? The young agents must survive attacks from foes both spectral and human before they can take on their greatest enemy in a climactic and chaotic battle. And to prevail they will have to rely on help from some surprising--and shadowy--allies. Jonathan Stroud once again delivers a rousing adventure full of danger, laughs, twists, and frights. The revelations will send readers back to Book 1 to start the series all over again.

As a supernatural outbreak baffles Scotland Yard and causes protests against the psychic agencies, Lockwood and Co continue to demonstrate their effectiveness in exterminating spirits. A new haunting in an old school involves bloody handprints and the appearance of a glowing boy. But, ghosts seem to be the least of their concerns when living assassins attack during a carnival in the centre of the city.

Anthony, Lucy, and George of Lockwood & Co are searching for the mysterious Dr Bickerstaff to find the secret of communicating with the dead. A rival agency also wants the commission and the search becomes a challenge. The loser must publicly admit defeat. A fearsome phantom seems a real challenge until the whispering skull that Lucy has brought along becomes the key to saving life, limb and friendships.

Psychic Investigation Agencies have sprung up everywhere to deal with a horrifying epidemic of ghosts. Ambitious agent, Lucy Carlyle, arrives in London, hoping for a notable career. Instead, she joins the smallest most ramshackle agency, run by charismatic Anthony Lockwood. When a case goes horribly wrong, the agency must salvage its reputation. This means spending the night in a haunted house and trying to escape alive.

London is teetering on a knife-edge, with strikes, riots and general unrest. The Prime Minister is largely controlled by two advisors, seventeen year old Nathaniel and the theatrical impresario, Quentin Makepeace. Meanwhile, living under a false identity, Kitty has been researching djinn; believing that the only way to destroy the magicians is for an alliance between djinn and ordinary people.

This prequel to the Bartimaeus trilogy sees the return of the sarcastic, chatty and mischievous djinni. Now, Bartimaeus is in Jerusalem and the court of King Solomon in 950s BC. The great Bartimaeus may have finally met his match. He'll have to contend with an unpleasant master and his sinister servant, and he runs into a fair bit of bother with King Solomon's magic ring.

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.

Nozomi has it all planned out--a summer in San Francisco, the perfect internship and fake dating the girl of her dreams. All she has to do now is turn the fauxmance with the perfect girl into something real. But when it comes to love, there's no such thing as the perfect plan.... Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

The Taliban in Afghanistan are seeking out young boys to become fighters. Fourteen year old Ali is smuggled out on a small boat. After a gruelling journey, Ali is rescued and transferred to Woomera Detention Centre in the Australian desert.

The greatest detective rat of all, Octavius O'Malley, is back. But, this time, it's personal. When Patrick the Magnificent goes missing after picking the lock at the First Rodent Bank, Chief O'Malley sets out to find him. It isn't long before the trail leads to Kurt Remarque, poisoner and disgraced businessrat, the most evil rat ever to stalk the streets of Rodent City.

It started with some missing cobblestones and a bump on the head of one of Rodent City's young police rats. But, this time, it's not the mice who are to blame. Even botching the investigation and losing his job can't stop Rodent City's finest detective from pursuing the case.

Someone has just blown up the biggest cheese factory in town and Detective Inspector Octavius O'Malley of the Rodent Police is on the case.

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.

Life in the city of Quentaris is never dull. Down in the caves, where rifts lead to magical other worlds, monsters are stirring. The city's two feuding families, the Blues and the Greens, have just held a battle in the market. There has been a duel between wizards and a burglary at the Order of Villains. And the Chief Soothsayer has just prophesied another disaster.

A young officer in Roman Britain sets off to discover what happened to the Ninth Legion, a legion that disappeared in the mists.

The beautifully written retelling of the legend of King Arthur and his knights of the round table.

Homer's magnificent epic poem, 'The Odyssey', brought to vivid life in an enthralling traveller's tale of the greatest voyage ever, with a spectacular cast of men, magicians and monsters.

In Bronze Age Britain, Drem must overcome his disability in order to pass the tribe's test to become a warrior.

Lucy always knew that her idea of Prince Charming was different to that of other girls. And then she meets Kaelyn online and everything starts to make sense. Maybe her Prince Charming is a girl. An inspiring and uplifting memoir about falling in love and finding yourself.

When a lone soldier, Cole, arrives with news of Lachlan Agatta's death, all hope seems lost for Catarina. Her father was the world's leading geneticist, and humanity's best hope of beating a devastating virus. Then, hidden beneath Cole's genehacked enhancements she finds a message of hope: Lachlan created a vaccine. Only she can find and decrypt it, if she can unravel the clues he left for her. The closer she gets, the more she finds herself at risk from Cartaxus, a shadowy organisation with a stranglehold on the world's genetic tech. But it's too late to turn back. There are three billion lives at stake, two people who can save them, and one final secret that Cat must unlock. A secret that will change everything. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Louis and his siblings are abducted from Paris by their father and taken to England. They have to change their names and their looks. Louis and his siblings face a choice, either to stay with their Dad and take on new identities or return to Paris.

In Thalia's world, there is no more food and no need for food, as everyone takes medication to ward off hunger. Her parents both work for the company that developed the drugs society consumes to quell any food cravings, and they live a life of privilege as a result. When Thalia meets a boy who is part of an underground movement to bring food back, she realizes that there is an entire world outside her own. She also starts to feel hunger, and so does the boy. Are the meds no longer working? Together, they set out to find the only thing that will quell their hunger: real food. It's a journey that will change everything Thalia thought she knew. But can a "privy" like her ever truly be part of a revolution? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Following a flood which has taken the lives of her family, a girl called Tom lives with Bill, with whom she falls pregnant. Many know her secret, including her grandmother and her good friend Jonah. Together, they will ensure the safe arrival of the Minnow. Contains mature themes and some language in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A country boy becomes a ship's doctor travelling to strange lands like Lilliput, the land of midgets. First published in 1726, captions explain historical facts to help modern readers. Also see, Jonathan Swift's Gulliver by Martin Jenkins, PRC ID 2055.

Gordon is growing up in World War II London. His older brother, Raymond, leaves home and becomes involved in secretive war work, or so he leads Gordon to believe. When Gordon finds a revolver hidden in his parent's house, he decides to track his brother down. But finding Raymond leads to much more than Gordon had bargained for as Raymond lures him into danger.

This is a book for people who want to be awesome at something, but aren't sure how. Written by a two-time Olympian, who admits he wasn't born sporty, this book explains how to become successful at anything, it doesn't matter where you start or who you are. This is an exciting, uplifting, encouraging, inspiring, and amusing book that every student will enjoy. What are your dreams? What do you want to be awesome at? Read this book and discover how you can be the best version of yourself.

If you are the kind of person who... -Avoids disagreements because you don't want to fall out -Gets too embarrassed to say that you've changed your mind -Feels so overwhelmed that you don't know what to think ...then this book is for you. What do YOU think? will help young readers to discover what is influencing their ideas, from peer pressure to fake news. They'll learn how to form and change opinions, and how to debate their views with empathy. Readers will see how debates and disagreements can give you new ideas, stronger friendships, and help change the world for the better. I know you have loads of incredible thoughts and ideas and the world deserves to hear your voice. I want to know... what do you think?

Helen Sykes has combined a selection of stories by some of Australia's best-known authors. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.