Booklists

Young Zena and her Year 7 school friends investigate a mystery that seems to indicate the presence of abalone poachers in her coastal town, a declared marine sanctuary. When a new boy at school goes missing, events unravel and interlink, causing Zena to grow up fast. She gains new understanding of her parents, her friends, and herself.

While stumbling through a harsh world of hopes and expectations, teenage journalist, Eddie Innocent, meets the stunning but strange Destiny. As they work together to solve a painful mystery, Eddie wonders if he's finally discovered the front page news story he's been looking for.

Premonition is a band hoping to make it big but they need somewhere to practise. Tom suggests the old warehouse but Billy has a bad feeling about it. Tom is angry, thinking Billy is putting it on but, as anger grows, a shadow falls over the band.

RULE NUMBER ONE: I will not turn out like my mother. Mim wants to be anywhere but home -- in a dead suburb and with a mother who won't get off the couch. She's set herself rules to live by, but she's starting to break them. In nine days she'll turn seventeen. What she doesn't know is that her life is about to change forever. And when it does, the same things will look entirely different. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Grace is a risk taker and never one to say no to a dare. So when she is challenged to walk "the pipe" at a local disused quarry, she accepts the challenge. But partway along the pipe, she has a supernatural experience she just can't explain. No one believes she has been hearing the voice of Hannah since walking the pipe, because Hannah is dead. As Grace sinks deeper into a decades-old local mystery, she herself starts to fear she is becoming a Mad Girl. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Sixteen-year-old Nate McKee is doing his best to be invisible. He's worried about a lot of things: how his dad treats Nance and his twin half-brothers; the hydro crop in his bedroom; his reckless friend, Merrick. Nate hangs out at the local youth centre and fills his notebooks with things he can't say. But when some of his pages are stolen, and his words are graffitied at the centre, Nate realises he has allies. He might be able to make a difference, change his life, and claim his future. Or can he? This is How We Change the Ending is raw and real, funny and heartbreaking - a story about what it takes to fight back when you're not a hero. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Harper Holt has just about had it with moving. Every six months or even less, Harper's family moves to a different place, and she can hardly ever settle down. However, when something devastating happens, Harper's life is tipped upside down and she realises what she had and how much she wishes to go back to the way things always were.

Highly informative, pocket-sized fact book on human anatomy and physiology. Contains an index, glossary, websites and reference section.

Stan Walker is one of Aotearoa's most famous singers. But nothing ever came easy for Stan. What were the chances of success for a kid whose parents had both been in jail? Whose world had been filled with drugs and violence and things no kid should even know about? In this young readers' edition of his bestselling autobiography, follow Stan's journey of overcoming impossible odds to achieve his dreams and make peace with his past. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, and above.

Lately, nothing is going right for thirteen year old Arnie. Ever since it happened, his family, especially his mother, has been behaving strangely. At school, he is accused of cheating and now Jacko has challenged him to a fight. He has to get his life sorted out and deal with what happened.

A war torn country, a town that is burning. Ten year old Malik's mother has been missing for days, his home has become unrecognisable and the grandfather he hardly knows is insisting they leave on the final ship, to a country promising safety and a new life. When Papa meets two old friends, he makes a deal that could save them. But, this is only the beginning of the journey for Malik. If he is to escape, he will need all his courage, his sense of right and wrong, and a magic trick that he must practice until it's perfect.

Pop culture-obsessed Maisie can't wait to get to her first Fancon. But being a queer, disabled teenager with chronic pain comes with challenges. Can Maisie make it through the day without falling over, falling in love or accidentally inspiring anyone? Maisie has always dreamed of meeting her hero, Kara Bufano, an amputee actor who plays a kick-arse amputee character in her favourite show. Fancon is big and exciting and exhausting. Then she meets Ollie, a cute volunteer who she has a lot in common with. Could this be the start of something, or will her mum, who doesn't seem to know what boundaries are, embarrass her before she and Ollie have a chance?

In Melbourne, in 1943, Mirabel is seventeen. She's leaving school, designing drsses and falling in love. Then, fate intervenes, her forbidden affair is discovered and JJ is posted back to China where a civil war is raging. Despite all warnings, Mirabel sets off for Shanghai and travels through great danger to find her true love. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Sin is dying. He has been poisoned by his blue blood. The traitor who poisoned him has escaped and is set on revenge. The Covert Operations Group (COG) tasks Sin, his friend Zonda Chubb and their frenemy Velvet Von Darque with recapturing the traitor WHATEVER THE COST. They must battle skypirates and the terrifying CLOCKILL to complete their mission. Can Sin survive long enough to save his friends, himself and the day?

Victorian York is a prejudice society with a vendetta against aberrations. Wrench is a burgeoning Brasswitch. As she discovers her powers, she also discovers that being a Brasswitch can get you killed. When recruited by the department of Regulators, Wrench is drawn into a dangerously deceitful and deadly world.

Discovered picking pockets at Coxford Corn Market, fourteen year old Sin is hunted across the city. Caught by the enigmatic Eldritch Moons, Sin is offered a way out of his life of crime: join the Covert Operations Group (COG) and train to become a spy. At Lenheim Palace, Sin learns spy craft while trying not to break the Cast-Iron Rules of the school. Befriended by eccentric Zonda Chubb, together they endeavour to unmask a traitor causing havoc within the palace. After an assassination attempt on the founder of COG, Sin realises that someone closest to him could be the traitor. With no other option, Sin is forced into an uneasy alliance with the school bully, Velvet Von Darque. But can he trust her? And will COG try to bury him with the secrets he discovers? Secrets, spies and steampunk gadgets abound in this fantastic adventure story.

Glenyse, an aboriginal Australian, is forcibly taken from her parents and raised in a strict Catholic institution. At seventeen, she's sent to work as a domestic on a rich, West Australian farm where she's treated very harshly. Housed in a dirty garage, fed inferior food after cooking sumptuous meals for the family to eat in their luxurious dining room, given unfamiliar tasks with no instruction, Glenyse is debased and humiliated.

Aeons ago, dragons spread terror across the Chinese empire. Their descendants became magnificent horses, which are now drawn into a battle, caused by an ancient evil and the destiny of two brothers.

Set in Chile, this political thriller takes the reader on a physical and emotional journey into a military coup. A powerful and disturbing novel about one boy's attempt to reveal the abuse of power and torture used by the state. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When Kasumi leaves her remote village for the teeming city of Edo, her life is transformed. She has been chosen by a samurai to become a lady-in-waiting to his new wife. Kasumi is surprised as she has no skills for this role and, worst of all, she is always in trouble for speaking her mind. Surely, this will get her into trouble with her new mistress. When Kasumi learns of a secret that puts them both in danger, she must solve the mystery, behind the danger they face, in order to save herself and her mistress.

Raised on rival colonies on Mars, each long ago abandoned by Earth, Dee and Holt have been brought up to hate even the idea of each other. But when a mysterious object crash lands on a far flung plain, they both set out to investigate. Stranded in a hostile landscape, Dee and Holt must work together to survive while unpicking the web of lies they have both been told about their planet.

Eva is far from home when everything goes wrong. And then it gets even worse. Her evacuation bus leaves her behind, stranded with classmates she barely knows. The chase is on. But South America is big, and the old rules are changing quickly. This is the road trip Eva never knew she needed. This is the race for the last flight home. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Set in Victorian London, a former Special Constable who loves science and inventions must solve a case for her Majesty's government. Mystery, conspiracy and even a touch of the supernatural. Blasphemous language may offend some readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Jorge is from Romania. When he was very young, his parents sold him to Bill, a controller, who keeps Jorge in a small hut in a shanty town on the outskirts of Paris with other children. Jorge is forced to steal to stay alive and to give everything to Bill. When Jorge meets Australian chef Ricky, he finally has hope of redemption. But he must also save his friends Ada and Gino, before Bill finds out.

Talented Mack loves being in her band at her city high school. She lives between houses - either with her dad and his annoying girlfriend or her easygoing mum. During the holidays, she also loves spending time with her beloved grandmother, riding horses and baking at her country farm. In this pick a path story, you get to make Mack's decisions for her. Potential romance and friendship, break-ups and make-ups lie in store - you have the power to choose, and then choose again!

Clem is thirteen years old, and her whole world is changing whether she likes it or not. From Santa, to boyfriends, her body, and her complicated relationship with her parents. Normally she would rely on her best friend Bridge to help steer her through, but it seems like even that friendship is changing too. As a new school year starts, and Clem and her friends head off on school camp, Clem finds herself in lots of tricky new situations.

Frankie and Joely are best friends. It's summer and they escape the city and their mums for a country holiday. But, when Joely introduces Frankie to Thommo and Mack, her country cousins, it's soon clear that more than the heat is getting under their skins. Simmering jealousies and festering secrets test their friendship. Local boy Rory stirs things up even more and secrets start to blister. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When Lily Frost's parents move to a country town called Gideon, things are dire. Lily has left her best friend and knows no one. But, someone seems to know her and it isn't exactly welcoming. Lily is thrown into the path of cute local boy, Danny, but he's not giving anything away. It's up to Lily to make sense of the watery footprints on her floor and the cold air that constantly seeps into her bones.

It's the summer holidays and thirteen year old Frankie Jones has a dilemma: she can go to London with her mum, but that means seeing Jack again, an old crush who has hurt her in the past; or she can go on a beach holiday with her dad, but that would involve hanging out with Dad's new girlfriend as well. In this pick a path story, you get to make Frankie's decisions for her. Make or break the rules and find romance or heartbreak along the way. When you get to the end you can go back and choose again!

Jake and Alex. Best mates. One terrible mistake. Two lives that will never be the same. Told in reverse, this powerful and gritty novel moves through the wreckage of a broken friendship, back to the moment when everything changed.

Sally Jones is not only a loyal friend, she's an extraordinary individual. In overalls or in a maharaja's turban, this unique gorilla moves among humans without speaking but understanding everything. She and the Chief are devoted comrades who operate a cargo boat. A job they are offered pays big bucks, but the deal ends badly, and the Chief is falsely convicted of murder. For Sally Jones this is the start of a harrowing quest for survival and to clear the Chief's name. Powerful forces are working against her, and they will do anything to protect their secrets.

How would it feel to find out that there was another world out there, a world beneath the world, hidden away like the secret caramel centre of a chocolate or a pearl tucked in an oyster's shell? A world where Alice could be accepted, even loved? To know that the world existed, but that she could never go there, that the doors would always be locked against her...Millie didn't want to think about it.

The dying wish of 16-year-old Lina's mother was for her daughter to live in Tuscany and get to know her father Howard, whom Lina has never met. Why did her mother wait so long to tell her about him? Waiting for her at Howard's home is a journal kept by her mother while she was a photography student in Florence. With the help of her mother's journal and her neighbour Ren, Lina uncovers a magical world full of secret romances, art and hidden bakeries. But she also learning more about her mother than ever before, following in her footsteps, and finding out the truth about her father. But mostly she finds out about herself.

Alfie Monk is like any other pre-teen, except he's 1000 years old and can remember when Vikings invaded his village and he and his family had to run for their lives. When he loses everything he loves in a tragic fire and the modern world finally catches up with him, Alfie embarks on a mission to change everything by finally trusting Aidan and Roxy enough to share his story, and enlisting their help to find a way to, eventually, make sure he will eventually die.

The year is 2425. Centuries after a catastrophic meteor collision, nature has retaken the earth. In a small town in what was once England, young Ocean Mooney and the monkey-owning Duke Smiff have just dug up a 400 year-old tablet computer. Meanwhile, in the present day, Thomas Reeve and his genius cousin Kylie create the Time Tablet - a device which they hope will allow them to communicate with the future. But when the Time Tablet malfunctions live on television, Thomas and Kylie are sucked into the year 2425 - and have only 24 hours to return home, and save the future of humanity...

My dad died twice. Once when he was thirty nine and again, four years later, when he was twelve. The first time had nothing to do with me. The second time definitely did. When Al Chaudhury discovers his late dad's time machine, he finds that going back to the 1980s requires daring and imagination. It also requires lies, theft, burglary and setting his school on fire. All without losing his pet hamster, Alan Shearer.

Ally and Cat have been friends for ever. Each girl plays their part in the friendship, but when Ally wants to make decisions to pursue interests different to Cat, problems arise. In the pick-a-path format, you make decisions for Ally and follow the story from one storyline to the next.

Viola can't go out in the sun. If she does, it will kill her. Even fluorescent lights can do her harm. So, her parents invest in night vision goggles and let her roam the nearby forest at night for fun. When Viola sees something that she will not ignore, she has a choice to make. But, choices come with consequences and hers may have dangerous implications. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A missing neighbour, a mysterious boy, a murder? Fifteen year old Annie is off to her basketball game in her sleepy New Zealand town when she sees a raincoat floating down the river. This starts a chain of events that will rock Annie's world. Police want to investigate her neighbour for murder, but before they can, he blows up his own house and goes on the run. Strangers come to town, including a dark-haired cowboy with the most amazing horse Annie has ever seen. As her world begins to crumble around her, Annie sets out to uncover the secret that could rip her small community apart.

Chas finds a crashed German bomber plane with a machine gun intact. During 1941, he and his friends believe that they can help the war effort in England.

Darcy, a budding author, arrives in New York City, to live her dream life as a published author of a novel, 'Afterworlds'. Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld', a place between the living and the dead, to survive a terrorist attack. The stories intertwine and one reality becomes the other. A challenging read; usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A few years after rebel Tally Youngblood takes down the Specials regime, a cultural renaissance sweeps the world. Tech-heads flaunt their latest gadgets, kickers spread gossip and trends, and surge monkeys are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. Popularity rules, and everyone craves fame. Fifteen-year-old Aya Fuse is no exception. But Aya's face rank is so low, she's a total nobody. An extra. Her only chance at stardom is to kick a wild and unexpected story. Then she stumbles upon a big secret. Aya knows she is on the cusp of celebrity. But the information she is about to disclose will change both her fate - and that of the brave new world. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

When a plane crash-lands in the arctic, eight young survivors step from the wreckage expecting to see nothing but ice and snow. Instead they find themselves lost in a strange jungle with no way to get home and little hope of rescue. Food is running out. Water is scarce. And the jungle is full of threats unlike anything the survivors have ever seen before- from razor-beaked shredder birds to carnivorous vines and much, much worse. With danger at every turn, these eight kids must learn to work together to survive. But cliques and rivalries threaten to tear them apart. And not everyone will make it out of the jungle alive.

Frey was raised to take a bullet. She's the body double for her twin sister Rafia - the precious heir of the first family of Shreve - and her existence is a closely guarded secret. So while Rafi was schooled in poise and diplomacy, Frey was drilled in weapons and combat. Her purpose: to protect her sister from their tyrannical father's many enemies. When Frey is sent in Rafi's place as collateral in a precarious business deal, she becomes the perfect impostor - as elegant and charming as her sister. But Col Palafox, the son of a rival leader, is getting close enough to spot the killer inside her. As layers of deceit peel away, can Frey become her own person, and risk everything in a rebellion? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted. But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold. Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 & above.

Rafi's engagement party is the talk of the feeds. Her dress is spectacular and her fiance, Col Palafox, is charming. But Rafi and Col are both prisoners - with bomb collars around their necks. Surveillance dust records their every move, tracks every glance. And there will be deadly consequences if Rafi's father realises that it's Frey who stayed behind in Shreve, while Rafi escaped with the rebels. With help from the rebels, Frey and Col must try to reach the neighbouring city of Paz, where they hope to be safe. But Frey and Rafi's father has destructive plans even for the City of Peace. When the dust settles after the disaster he initiates, will Frey be able to find a way to survive? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

"Special Circumstances": The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary. And now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid. The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more. Still, it's easy to tune that out -- until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world-- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever... 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.

Two strangers with new powers take to the dance floor at the Zeroes' underground nightclub. The Zeroes pursue them, only to discover that they're fleeing an even more sinister power-wielder, Swarm. If they are to stay safe, the Zeroes must learn all they can about this dangerous new player. But, each of the Zeroes has their own issues to deal with. It's up to Flicker to pick up the reins and lead the Zeroes into a terrifying showdown. Sequel to Zeroes. Mature themes. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 or above.

Six teens have powers that set them apart. Ethan has a voice inside him that'll say what you want to hear, true or not. This is handy, except when the voice starts gabbing in the middle of a bank robbery. To help Sam, the group's leader pulls the scattered Zeroes back together. But, the rescue goes wrong and they must deal with dangerous criminals. In the chaos, they find Kelsie, who can take a crowd in the palm of her hand and tame it, or let it loose as she pleases. Mature themes. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

The behemoth is the fiercest creature in the British navy. The Darwinists will need it now they are at war with the Austrian Clanker powers. Alek, heir to the Austrian throne, is posing as a commoner while Deryn Sharp, a girl, is posing as a boy in the British Air Service. Despite their different philosophies, the pair unite aboard the airship Leviathan, hoping to end the war. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek's throne as Prince of Austria and, finally, fall in love. But, their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war and the crown. And, a potential relationship would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl, and if they weren't technically enemies. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

On the cusp of World War 1, Prince Aleksandar flees Austria in a Cyklop Stormwalker, a war machine that walks on two legs. In Britain, Deryn Sharp is training to be an airman, hoping no-one will discover she's a girl. She serves on the Leviathan, a massive biological airship, functioning as a self-contained ecosystem. When the two teens cross paths, the line between enemy and ally is no longer clear. 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.

Eighteen-year-old Julianne De Marchi is different. As in - she has an electrical undercurrent beneath her skin that stings and surges like a live wire. She can use it-to spark a fire, maybe even end a life - but she doesn't understand what it is. And she can barely control it, especially when she's anxious. Ryan Walsh was on track for a stellar football career when his knee blew out. Now he's a soldier - part of an experimental privatised military unit that has identified Jules De Marchi as a threat. Is it because of the weird undercurrent she's tried so hard to hide? Or because of her mother Angie's history as an activist against bio-engineering and big business? It's no coincidence that Ryan and Jules are in the same place at the same time - he's under orders to follow her, after all. But then an explosive attack on a city building by an unknown enemy throws them together in the most violent and unexpected way. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Ben Harvester doesn't make friends easily, preferring to spend his time and his talent for drawing in graveyards. It is in one such cemetery that Ben discovers another of his gifts, the ability to see the newly-dead. He is drawn into a battle of good against evil, with grotesque creatures seemingly gaining the ascendency, while Ben is both the cause of the trouble and also its solution.

Peta Lyre is far from typical. The world she lives in isn't designed for the way her mind works, but when she follows her therapist's rules for 'normal' behaviour, she can almost fit in without attracting attention. When a new girl, Sam, starts at school, Peta's carefully structured routines start to crack. But on the school ski trip, with romance blooming and a newfound confidence, she starts to wonder if maybe she can have a normal life after all. When things fall apart, Peta must decide whether all the old rules still matter. Does she want a life less ordinary, or should she keep her rating normal? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Moa has spent his life toiling on the Frontier sugar cane plantation fearing the vicious whips the overseers. When he hears of an uprising, he is ready to be a cane warrior and fight to free his people. He is still only a boy and will have to confront terrifying tasks to survive and succeed. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

For McKay, living on the South Crongton council estate has become even tougher since his mum died. His dad is working all hours, his brother rides the streets at night, tempting trouble. And, after an heroic but misguided mission to help a girl, McKay is facing a crazy ex-boyfriend, power-tripping hood-rats and a violent gangster. He never asked for trouble. During one mad night of adventure and danger, McKay will find out who his true friends are and what it means to stick with family. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Venetia King is the coolest girl at school. Too bad Lemar is the second shortest guy in his year. Everyone calls him Liccle Bit. Things aren't much better at home. His mum is permanently hassled, his sister a frustrated single mum and his dad moved out years ago. Liccle Bit wishes he could do something to make life better. Even a new phone would be good. When a gang war breaks out, Liccle Bit somehow finds himself running errands for Crongton's notorious gang leader. But, when he hears about a killing on the estate, Liccle is forced to question his choices. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Two tales twist together at 203 Liberty Street, Newtown. In 1985, sixteen year old Evie and her family move into a new home, which appears to be haunted. Evie dreams of running footsteps, shouting voices and loud banging. Fifty years previously, during the Great Depression, Lizzie and her family live at number 203. Her family faces eviction and the local communist movement barricades the house. The final chapters reveal the connections between the past and the present. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Rosa goes to the Ballarat goldfields with her parents in 1854, during the lead up to the Eureka Stockade. She keeps a daily journal of her experiences - a fresh and interesting minutiae of daily life on the goldfields.

A unique and fascinating account, from an Indigenous perspective, of the history of Western Desert communities.

At thirteen, Koly enters a traditional Indian, arranged marriage and is widowed in months. She is imprisoned in her husband's home until abandoned to spend her days in worship with other widows. Koly discovers opportunities and savage crimes among those who would help her and those who would exploit her.

Inspired by the true story of Muslims who saved the lives of Jewish children in the Second World War. in 1942, in the Grand Mosque in Paris, 11-year-old Ruben is hiding from the Nazis. Already thousands of Jewish children have disappeared. But when the Mosque is raided, Ruben is forced to flee.

It's Matt's fifteenth birthday and he receives a card from his mother, whom he grew up believing to be dead. Feeling betrayed by both his parents, he begins writing letters to Leonardo da Vinci to help sort out the mess in his head. Through the connections he makes between his own life and that of Leonardo, Matt unravels the mystery and discovers his mother's secrets. Includes complex issues about mental health. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The sequel to A path begins continues the story of Kara and Taff who escape their village by riding into the forbidden forest. The dangers of the Thickety are many. The plants are deadly, strange animals whisper among the trees and unknown magic lurks behind every twist of the path. But, more dangerous still, is Sordyr, the forest demon, who pursues them. Supernatural themes of magic, witchcraft and some violence.

Kara and Taff know that only Grace Stone has the power to reverse her Last Spell on their father and that, in order to save him, they have to first rescue their foe from the Well of Witches. Forgiving Grace should be the hardest part of their journey but the children are confronted by creatures called the Faceless, mysteries as old as magic, and an ancient secret that threatens their very lives. Back in the World, a war against magic is brewing that endangers everyone they care about. Includes supernatural themes of magic, witchcraft and some violence.

When Kara was six, her mother was convicted of witchcraft. Kara and her brother, Taff, are still shunned by the villagers who believe that the only thing more evil than magic is the mysterious forest, the Thickety. When an unusual bird lures Kara into the forbidden forest, she discovers a strange book with unspeakable powers, which might have belonged to her mother. Includes supernatural themes of magic, witchcraft and some violence.

Kara and her brother Taff must find the hidden pieces of Princess Evangeline's grimoire to defeat Rygoth and her army of witches in one last good versus evil battle.They will travel through time with an old enemy, come face-to-face with the creatures that guard the grimoire's pages, and unravel a king's dangerous secret, before one final battle against the Spider Queen. But can Kara save the people she loves and cast a spell that could change magic forever?

Bug has a secret. Actually, he has lots of secrets. Number one: He has formed a basketball team at his new school based on a giant lie. Number two: his parents do not know he is playing basketball again. Number three: his new team mates have no idea he isn't allowed to play and they definitely do not know why. Bug will do anything to keep his secrets, keep his new team and keep his life from falling apart. No one can know the biggest secret of all.....

Maria discovers a group of Lilliputians and must protect them from her governess and a cunning vicar.

A legend of King Arthur set in the 13th century.

A mythical story of Arthur and his quest led by Merlin, the sorcerer.

Mackenzie's world has been turned upside down with the disappearance of her mother following a scientific journey photographing bats in Panama. Her father's sudden and rash decision for Mackenzie to join him in searching for Maggie where she was last seen becomes even more unsettling when he becomes ill and Mackenzie must decide what to do when she comes across some potentially helpful information.

Following the death of her father, Bayley's family is not coping, with her sister's rebellious behaviour and her brother feeling guilt about his role in the accident. Bayley is trying to keep things together for everyone. Mum decides a move to an old family home in the country is best, where there is the 40 year old unsolved disappearance of Bayley's cousin, who is using Bayley to seek revenge. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Mark and Lily have been banished from Agora, the ancient city-state where everything is for sale, memories, emotions and even children. Lost and alone they discover Giseth, a seemingly perfect land where everyone is equal and possessions are unknown. Lily believes they will find the secret of their entwined destiny. But paradise comes at a price.

In the city of Agora, anything can be bought and sold. Even children are possessions until their twelfth birthday. Mark has been sold by his father, and Lily, an orphan from birth, has bartered for her life. Thrown together, they face an existence of poverty and servitude, unless they can find a way to break free. But, unbeknown to Mark and Lily, they are being watched by the ruler of the city.

Learn to code five fun computer games in this essential beginner's guide for kids using the popular programming languages HTML and JavaScript. From Mario to Minecraft, discover the basic concepts behind computer games such as loops, ticks, scores, graphics and AI. Then follow the easy step-by-step Game Builds, and learn how to code five ground-breaking games, including Noughts and Crosses, Snake and Table Tennis. Short and simple explanations are given alongside examples of code and there is a supporting website if you get stuck.

BLAKWORK is a powerful collection of memoir, reportage, fiction, satire and critique through which the themes of great loss and the desire for a different future, emerge. Through her innovative and powerful poetic voice, Whittaker merges her own personal experiences with her research into Australian history and political decisions, to create a fearless and unsparing portrayal of the Australia presented through other interpretations; a portrayal that challenges the readers' understanding and invites them to rethink the identity and place projected onto the traditional custodians of the land. Usually read by students in year 9, 10 and above.

Life has returned to routine for Mitch. Mostly. He's had to find a new kind of normal after his dad drowned saving a local kid. But now there's a new girl in Mitch's class and she's stirring things up. Her name is Max and she dresses a bit like a goth, and suddenly seems to be everywhere. One night Mitch sees Max and she looks different. She has ... big feathery wings. It turns out Max is an angel, but not quite how you'd imagine one. She is Mitch's emergency rescue angel, and just the kind of friend you want on your side when life gets tricky.

A poignant, sad story of the bond between two brothers, Alexi and Misha, who salvage and sell Soviet space junk. When Misha suffers seizures, Alexi takes his young brother to Moscow for proper treatment, leaving behind their family and livelihood.

Fourteen year old Karanda Hooke doesn't need anybody or anything. On her way to her sixth foster home, a crash leaves her stranded in the outback, with only a backpack, a bottle of water and a stained picture of the mother she hasn't seen in years. This is her chance to escape her old life. There's only one thing in her way. Eight year old Solomon, a fellow foster child, who was also in the car.

When he hatches from his egg, Sepio, a baby bobtail squid, is not able to glow. His dark shape is too obvious in the moonlit water and all kinds of predators lurk nearby. Ali, an intrepid Vibrio fischeri bacterium, is determined to reach safety too. A picture book about the symbiotic relationship between a bobtail squid and a bacterium.

While treating a patient with dysentery, Sister Annie Barnaby encounters a strain of lethal bacteria. As the invaders journey deep into her gut, the resident microbes must fight to survive and Annie's life hangs in the balance. Enter the phage, a deadly viral predator, ready to wage war to protect their host. Created by an expert team of scientists, artists, educators, writers and historians, The Invisible war is a story like no other.

Arrow is haunted by a childhood tragedy. Marika is caught in a nightmare from which there is no escape. They are both looking for answers and when they come across a magician, they are tempted by a possibility of a way out. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

A boy living alone must face his greatest fear, the woolvs (wolves). A dark, brooding story with strong illustrations. Ideal for visual literacy.

A collection of Wilde's classic stories that include The Selfish Giant and The Happy Prince. The story of the statue of a once pleasure-loving Prince who, with the help of a once selfish swallow, helps the poor and suffering people in their distress.

Talking about the weather used to be small talk. Now, it's the hottest topic on Earth. We can't survive without Earth's atmosphere yet, most of the time, we ignore it. Our atmosphere is treated as a rubbish dump for our greenhouse gas emissions. Slowly but surely, what we are doing is changing the Earth's climate. In small chunks, this book cuts through the many voices raised around climate change to tell the story of our atmosphere, what is putting our climate at risk and what we can do about it.

Offers historical insights, without glorification, into the life of the outlaw as told by characters present at the various events in Ned's life. Supported by archival photographs, press clippings and quotes from correspondence and other documents.

At less than 1000 years old, Danzi is a young dragon. He should be hibernating for winter but has an obligation to deliver an inheritance to the family of his old Dragonkeeper's family. His duty is interrupted when he rescues a man from some brutal soldiers. It is a dangerous time for a dragon to be without a keeper.

The first shots were fired at eleven am on 19 July 1916. The Battle of Fromelles lasted less than twenty-four hours and, when it was over, more than five thousand Australian soldiers had been killed, wounded or taken prisoner. More soldiers died at Fromelles than in the Boer, Korean and Vietnam wars combined. Almost a century later, the attention of the world has once again turned to Fromelles. Usually read by students in Years 9,10 or above.

Hatshepsut was the eldest daughter of Tuthmosis I, a pharaoh who ruled Egypt. Her mother was Queen Ahmose. Explore the mystery surrounding her life and her reign. You can decide if she was a strong ruling pharaoh or a power-hungry princess.

Forced to live with her grandfather at the remote family property that has been in her family for generations, Nic wonders how she will survive without mobile reception or Wi-Fi. She begins to explore the family home, finding cryptic clues that she hopes will lead to information about her mother who died on the day she was born. Nic finds something even better, a way to travel back in time, a way to find out about her ancestors. What she discovers though is a dark secret that still haunts the land and the people who live there. Can she change the terrible events of the past, is there some way to undo the atrocities of her ancestors?

What happens when the lights go off after what might truly be an end-of-the-world event? How do you stay alive? Who do you trust? How much do you have to sacrifice? Seventeen-year-old Pru Palmer lives with her twin sisters, Grace and Blythe, and their father, Rick, on the outskirts of an isolated mining community. The Palmers are doomsday preppers. They have a bunker filled with non-perishable food and a year's worth of water. One day while Rick is at the mine, the power goes out. At the Palmers' house, and in the town. All communication is cut. No one knows why. It doesn't take long for everything to unravel. In town, supplies run out and people get desperate. The sisters decide to keep their bunker a secret. The world is different; the rules are different. Survival is everything, and family comes first. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Ruby's younger brother has died and her family is torn apart. Ruby feels his death so personally that she has shut herself off from her usual world. When she meets Fox, an idiosyncratic but gentle loner, Ruby is drawn into his special, little community. Fox seems to understand what she's going through and offers her a chance to find peace. But, Ruby discovers that he lives in a terrifying, secretive cult community that is far from the ideal world she expected. Gripping, confronting read. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

A girl wakes up on a bus, but has no memory of how she got there and what she's doing there. There are other passengers too and it soon becomes obvious that they don't have any memories either. Then begins a series of tests where the passengers decide the outcome. At first the tests seem harmless enough but soon it becomes obvious the passengers are doing more than making judgements on imagined scenarios - in fact the tests become a case of life or death. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10, or above.

Astrid is popular, clever and an environmental activist. Hiro is rude, resentful, and doesn't see the point of school. When they meet, Hiro's wrangling shopping trolleys and doesn't recognise Astrid, who's wearing a lobster suit to highlight a threatened species. She wants to change the world, he wants to survive it. But, ultimately, both believe that the world needs to be saved from itself. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Through a mixture of narrative and historical sources, the extraordinary life of Joan of Arc is detailed from her childhood in the small village of Doremy to her eventual burning at the stake, at the tender age of 18. The story follows Joan's quest to have the Dauphin crowned as the true King of France and the English invaders defeated.

Beatrice May Ross, otherwise known as Bee, is in her element working at the taxidermy department at the Museum of Natural History. But, her summer job is full of surprises. For starters, there's a dead body, a mysterious benefactor, a large stuffed tiger and a pocketful of glass eyes. Bee must sift through the clues to discover whether a murder has been committed.

A collection of short stories and poems in which to dip in and out. Some of Australia and New Zealand's best known writers and illustrators for children are featured as well as contributions from young people.

A warrior princess risking her throne to end a lifelong war. A young enemy soldier questioning his role in a game of life and death. If they join forces under the shadow of a new threat, will they survive to lead the resistance? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Beatle normally doesn't go out on Friday the thirteenth but this is an exception. And, then, there's the attractive girl wearing sunglasses and reading a book. Not only is her name Destiny but her surname is McCartney, and since his real name is John Lennon, and for a whole lot of other spooky reasons, it seems destined that they will be together. But Beatle already has a girlfriend. Some language in context. Usually read by student in Years 9,10 or above.

Holly Fitzgerald has inexplicably woken up inside the body of an LA teenager called trinity Byrne in 1980 - trapping Trinity in Holly's forty year old body back in Melbourne 2020. Mind. Officially. Blown. Holly finds herself navigating a brand new body, family and cute boy next door - not to mention rock band that might just make it, and potential kidnapper. Meanwhile, lies intersect with truth, hurtling both Holly and Trinity towards a dangerous fate as the connections between them grow deeper and stranger than either of them could have ever imagined. "

What's a girl to do when her parents have split up; her dad has a new girlfriend, her mum is internet dating and one of her best friends has decided not to invite her to the biggest party of the year (which she then has to watch the party unfold on everyone's else's social media!). If you're a girl called MC, you get mad as hell, that's what you do. But what begins as one girl's private no-holds-barred rant soon snowballs in the most public way possible. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Discover the fascinating life of Leonardo Da Vinci and his many interests and talents. From the Mona Lisa to his flying machines, Da Vinci's work includes some of the most famous, and quirky, pieces in history.

After a somewhat disastrous first day in a new high school, Sasha finds herself in the tight and caring friendship circle with Abby, Brit and Christine. Together they form a tight and supportive unit. The girls become united in their frustration at the lack of sanitary products in their school bathrooms, and the lack of interest in their call for support. Rallied by Abby, the girls try to get their cause noticed, but it might go a little too far.

Archie's first hand experience of being in London during the Great War of 1914-1918 is told through his scrapbook.

The Globe Theatre is delighted to announce a new season of Mr. William Shakespeare's plays. See As You Like It, Antony and Cleopatra, Richard III, Twelfth Night, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing. Each play is presented in dramatic comic-strip form, including Mr Shakespeare's own dialogue and the riotous remarks of the audience.

The segments cover the classic tales of King Arthur and his origin; Excalibur and the Lady of the Lake; Morgan le Fay; Guinevere and the round table; Sir Lancelot of the Lake; Sir Lancelot's First Quest thwarting a dragon; Princess Elaine; Sir Galahad, the son of Sir Lancelot; 'Camelot; and the Grail Quests of Sir Lancelot, Sir Percival and Sir Galahad.

Take your place in the Globe Theatre of Shakespeare's day to see seven of his best-loved plays in performance. Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, The Winter's Tale and The Tempest are all brought life in comic-strip versions, which include the bard's own dialogue and the rowdy remarks of the audience.

A picture book retelling the classic tales by Charles Dickens. Stories included are Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield and A Christmas Carol.

Simon's life revolves around his love of music. He listens to it, he plays it, he writes it, and performs it. When he wakes up one morning completely deaf after a ministroke, his world nearly falls apart. Angry and confused, he refuses help, refuses to learn to sign, and tries desperately to hold on to music. It is only when he meets G, a girl his own age suffering from a different form of deafness caused by severe tinnitus, that he begins to seriously consider a full life, even a life with music. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Eleven year old Dan Hope has a list of things he wants to come true. He wants his sister, Ninja Grace, to go to university at the North Pole and only come back once a year. He wants his dog, Charles Scalleybones the First, to stop eating the planets from his solar system mobile and throwing them up on the carpet. He want to help Sherlock Holmes solve his most daring mystery yet. But, most of all, he wants his dad to love him.

Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City until she is suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the all-new Ms. Marvel? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! As Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Floss has a special bond with her penniless father with whom she shares a humorous relationship. By ignoring the teasing from her peers, she is able to discover true friendship.

Everyone expects that Frankie and her childhood friend, Sam, will become boyfriend and girlfriend, Even Sam seems to think this. Frankie is surrounded by loving family and friends, but it is Sally who fascinates Frankie and takes up all her time. Sally seems to like being adored, but is she actualy interested in Frankie's affections?

Pearl and Jodie, boy-mad sisters and best friends, are full of teen and pre-teen angst. Mum just can't cope with little girls who don't do as they're told, especially precocious Jodie whom, in her frustation, she often lashes out at physically. Pearl can't believe that Jodie would ever choose to leave her but perhaps her story won't have a happy ending. Coarse language used in context. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

In Germany, in World War II, Jenny's father is taken prisoner by the Americans and her brother is killed. When the mother of her Jewish friend, Rafael, is taken by the Gestapo Jenny's family hides him. The story traces the dangers facing Jenny and Rafael, and their eventual escape. Adult themes, violence, coarse language. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Kari knows a lot about his jungle home but he doesn't know why there is fighting in the village of Kokoda. When Kari finds a wounded Australian soldier, he knows he cannot leave him. They must retreat along the Kokoda Track with the enemy following.

Henry York discovers that he is a seventh son with the gift of second sight, an ability to tune into the hidden nature of people and objects. He will use this gift to combat the rising strength of the witch of Endor whose evil is all encompassing.

A frantic rooftop race, alchemy lessons on the zepplin, a booby-trapped pyramid ... just the start of semester two at Prometheus High. Join Athena and Marceline on their mission to unearth Marceline's past. Does it have anything to do with the ancient monster on the airship and how far are they willing to go to reach their answers?

Everything you see and touch is made of one or more of the over ninety discovered elements like oxygen, platinum and ytterbium. This book is packed with things to learn and explore and the extraordinary ways in which the elements affect our lives.

Your brain is the most complicated and mysterious part of your body. It contains more than a billion cells and, every second, billions of electrical signals dart between these cells, at speeds of more than four hundred kilometres per hour. Find out why you laugh, why your parents can read your mind and why you have strange or scary dreams.

Navigating school is difficult at the best of times, but Amelia has found herself branded with the worst nickname, Maggot. In her attempt to prove her classmates wrong and get away from her nickname and become popular, Amelia makes an even worse blunder.

Rosalind wants to talk, she really does, but the only place she can is home. At school or anywhere in public, no matter how badly she wants to, her words get stuck and refuse to come out. Unsurprisingly, this has had a big impact on her life and as a consequence, she has no friends. You can imagine how tough it is for her, then, when she starts in Year 7 at Manor High. Pretty much instantly she is the target of bullies and her life becomes even more miserable than it already was. But a new therapist, and her little brother's total faith in her, lead Rosalind to becoming Miss Nobody - an online voice for the nobodies, the victims, the sad kids. And, at first, this seems to be a real step forward in her fight to be 'normal'. But then Miss Nobody's fame starts to morph into something more sinister. Is Miss Nobody actually just as much of a bully as the real bullies?

Eva has been famous since before she was born. Every milestone, her first word, her first tantrum are all recorded and uploaded online for the whole world to see. All because her parents overshare her entire life on their super successful internet channel. And now they have posted about her first period. She has had enough. Enough of the stupid outfits, constant teasing at school and no privacy ever. She is taking back control of her life, even if it means taking down her own parents.

Clever, eleven year old heroine, Silver, is on a modern day quest to get time right. She must escape the villainous Abel Darkwater and find the timekeeper to save the people of London from the disasters caused by time tornadoes and time traps.

Abel Jackson is passionate about diving and is a natural in the water. Every day, he helps his mother earn their living from the sea and the land. It's hard work but Abel has the bush and the sky and the bay to himself. Until the day he meets Blueback, the fish that changes his life.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

When Lockie moves to a coastal town where his dad is the new police officer, he has trouble settling in. Live each agonising, embarrassing adolescent moment as he makes friends and has a torrid love affair with Vickie, prettiest girl in town.

The further adventures of Lockie Leonard as he holds his family together during his mum's illness. Adolescent issues are explored within strong family relationships. Courage, character and humour prevail even when Lockie is sorely tested.

Lockie, has been dumped by his girlfriend, but his attention focuses on a local environmental disaster. Lockie wonders if he will ever get the adults to take him seriously.

While the fateful first voyage of the RMS Titanic is a well known event in history, Allan Wolf tells this story through the voices of dozens of real passengers and also creatively created imagined voices. This book gives you insight into the thoughts and actions of everyone from the captain of the Titanic to the world's richest man to the stokers forever shovelling coal in the giant furnaces which powered the unsinkable ship!

A tiny dog is born on a remote cattle station. She should have died but for Elsie finding her, saving her, and naming her Princess. Elsie and Princess have a wonderful life until the War arrives. With Japanese air strikes coming closer, Elsie and her family leave the Pilbara for safety down south, but they can't take Princess. The little dog begins her adventures when she is taken by stockman Dave, who calls her Dog. She witnesses wonderful and terrible things, and gives courage and support to many humans. But through all her amazing adventures she never forgets her beloved Elsie...will she ever find her again?

Fourteen year old Isabel is returning to her birthplace in Papua New Guinea. She's eager to see her family again but there's a tragic reason for the trip. Izzy's twin brother, Ray, has died in a freak diving accident. Things have changed since their last visit. Logging threatens the community's way of life and sharks no longer answer the ancestral song of the shark callers. The clan needs someone to undertake a traditional and perilous diving ritual. It must be a twin from the shark calling lineage. Izzy is the last twin.

Jack and Hoshi are soldiers on opposite sides who meet on the Kokoda Track during World War Two. Graphic illustrations enrich this sensitive, realistic and harrowing story of the personal tragedy of two soldiers and their loved ones at home. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Thirteen-year-old Mia lives on a bush block in the Pilbara, where she assists her mother's work as a vet and equine therapist. Although she is used to the seasonal cyclones that threaten the West Australian coast, nothing can prepare her for the ferocity of Cyclone Veronica when she finds herself home alone and needing to protect their property and the animals she loves. A compelling story of one girl's experience of 2019's Cyclone Veronica in Western Australia.

Crow was just a baby when she was tied into a boat and pushed out to sea. When she washes up onto a tiny island, there are just 3 clues to her origin; a birthmark in the shape of a feather, a ruby ring and a sea-soaked letter with just a few cryptic words remaining. 12 years later, when a mysterious fire appears across the ocean, Crow starts to wonder who she is and where she came from. Crow will set out on a remarkable treasure hunt, and discover what it truly means to be a family. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

All her life, twelve year old Annabelle has lived in Wolf Hollow, a quiet, small Pennsylvania town, still scarred by two world wars. But, when cruel and manipulative Betty Glengarry arrives in class, Annabelle's calm world is shattered, along with everything she's ever known about right and wrong. When Betty disappears, suspicion falls on strange, gentle loner, Toby. As the community turns against him, Annabelle must do everything in her power to protect Toby and find Betty, before it's too late.

Bren Own was born and bred in a small port town. Map may appear to be dull and unadventurous to young Bren in 1599 before the arrival of a Dutch ship. A dying sailor and strange gift change his life forever. Bren will travel far and make new friends. There will be challenges and mysteries. There are codes and legends to unravel and danger in all corners. This is an adventure story set during the Age of Discovery.

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

Seven short plays explore interesting ways of portraying characters to excite and shock audiences, with lots of guidance on delivery and stage directions.

For sixteen year old scholarship student Van Uoc Phan, magic has never been part of the plan. She is all work and no play; responsible and rational; quiet on the outside, the noise of her tumbling private thoughts kept neatly within. So, when she makes a wish about golden boy rower, Billy Gardiner, and it seems to come true, her sense of rationality as well as her sense of self are thrown into a state of flux.

Fourteen year old Dan Cereill is not quite coping with moving house, new school hell, a mother with a failing wedding cake business, a just-out gay dad and an impossible crush on Estelle, the girl next door. His life is a mess but, for now, he's narrowed it down to just six things to achieve. Dan thinks they may be impossible.

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

During the Plague in London in 1665, Rachel fears for her life and that of her missing cousin when, one day, he fails to return. Robert's side of the story is also told. Contains violence and gruesome facts in context. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Two young friends are on opposite sides of a violent struggle between the workers at the mill, who have been driven to desperation by deprivation, and the owners of the mills trying to build successful businesses using modern technology. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

When Luke goes missing, his friends are dragged into the terrifying world of Malice, the underground comic. The evil Tall Jake takes children into a fantasy world where they can really die. It takes heroes like Seth and the loyalty of Kady to survive the violent, brutal comic-book pages. Be prepared to be very scared.

Thomas Edison created the incandescent light bulb and illuminated the world with electricity. That was just one of his many groundbreaking inventions which changed entertainment, industry and everyday life. From a lonely, inquisitive boy who carried out lots of experiments, he became an enterprising and imaginative inventor.

Stories about The Eureka Stockade usually feature men and their roles in the rebellion. This book provides a whole new perspective, featuring the remarkable, vibrant women of Eureka, whose sheer determination shaped our national consciousness. This is their story and the story of the thousands of men, women and children who risked everything in their quest for gold.

Andy buys a racecourse from a tramp for three dollars.

An orphaned girl and an outcast Aboriginal boy become involved in a spiritual journey at the time of European settlement in Australia.

13 year old Grace loves her new charity shop coat. It is perfect! Except for one tiny thing. When she wears it, she sees visions of the previous owner's life....and their murder! Grace and her best friend, Suzy, decide to investigate but digging up the past reveals secrets some people want kept hidden. Can Grace solve a fifty-year-old murder or will she become the killer's next victim?

Ruth Rose, wild stepdaughter of the local preacher, believes he caused the disappearance of Jim Hawkin's father. Investigating the mystery puts both teenagers in mortal danger. A harrowing story with strong language in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Following a wild and raging storm, the Swiss family Robinson is stranded at sea. The thundering waves have swept them off to a tropical island, where a new life, with many dangers and delights, awaits them.