Booklists

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

The story of 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.