Booklists

In 1836, Irish brothers, Danny and Declan Sheehan, are inmates at Tasmania's Point Puer prison for convict boys. When tragedy strikes and the prison bully is on the rampage, escape is the brothers only chance to survive.

When Captain Ross shoots Jem's dog, Jem dreams of retribution. So, when a bushranger takes the Captain's horse and clothes, Jem isn't a bit upset, although he is still stuck on the Captain's homestead, far from the only family he knows. But, Alfie, the cook's son, and his mate, Tommy, an Aboriginal boy, become Jem's staunch supporters, even when his decisions aren't so smart. Join the three boys as they hole up in a secret hideout, rescue a puppy and meet a real live bushranger.

Within the rough and ready frontier settlement of Moreton Bay, which later became the city of Brisbane, Toby and his mates roam free, and linger at the fringes of the grown-up world. They are particularly interested in horse racing. But, it's a dangerous world and when Toby decides to take part in a race through the streets, he doesn't realise it will be a matter of life and death.

Henry lives with his father and sister on the Victorian goldfields. Still mourning the loss of his mother and baby brother, Henry helps his father mine their claim, hoping to strike it rich. But they can't afford a mining licence so are at the mercy of corrupt police. When Henry meets a new friend, he enters a world of politics, riots and rebellion that will lead him to Eureka Stockade, one of the defining moments in Australian history.

Jimmy's Dad died two years ago and older brother Arthur is in Egypt preparing enthusiastically for battle. Twelve year old Jimmy is now the man of the house. As Mum's health is fragile, Jimmy is forced to leave school and become the breadwinner, scraping together barely enough to cover minimal food and the rent. When Arthur returns, badly injured, Jimmy's life gets even harder, although there's still time for football.

During the Great Depression, when his father loses his job, Tom Parker sets out to save his family from eviction. He confronts bullies, financial hardship and prejudice but his determination and never-say-die attitude is as strong as his loyalty to his family.

For Anna, the quest to find the most beautiful doll she has ever seen is the most important thing in the world. But it's only one of the adventures to be had growing up in 1960s Australia. Was it really such a short time ago that there were no computers, no mobile phones... no seatbelts? That milk was delivered to your front door every morning, and animals lived in tiny concrete cages at the zoo. Anna and her family celebrate birthdays and Passover, navigate friendships, illness, surprises and mishaps - all the lessons that come with growing up. And through it all, Anna never loses sight of her dream: to find an antique doll to love and treasure.

Believing he was descended from Achilles and Hercules, Alexander set out to better their heroic deeds. For eight years, he led the Macedonians, mostly on foot, defeating huge armies and proving to be either a brilliant warrior or a ruthless invader.

Alfred was just a young man when he was injured and shipped home from France. Neither honoured as a returned soldier or offered government support afforded to non-Indigenous servicemen, Alfred took up a solitary life walking the back roads - billy tied to his swag, finding work where he could.

The inspiring true story of two jewish girls Zhanna and Frina who are from Ukraine during World War 2. A story about courage, talent and persistence to escape war and the power of music to help overcome the challenges through difficult times.

It's 1918 and Alice has never felt lonelier. Her father is missing at sea, her brother, Teddy, is away at war and she's not allowed to speak to her best friend anymore. Alice tries to forget her worries by having a stall at the Apple Blossom Fair. But, when strange events start happening in the town, everything goes wrong. Alice just wants the war to be over and for her life to be the same again.

The war is over, summer has arrived and Alice is hopeful that life with her family will finally return to normal. However, nothing goes as expected. Her mother loses her job at the bank, the country is gripped with the deadly Spanish Influenza and there are problems between Alice and her best friend, Jilly. Even the return from Europe of Teddy, Alice's big brother, can't fix everything.

Read a story that began 200,000,000 years ago of fascinating lands, including our very own Australia, that are linked together by seas and monsoon winds. Journey along with two children across eons of time and the changing lands of Southeast Asia. Discover with them a world filled with traders, adventurers, conquerors and ordinary people struggling for independence. This is a story of the hopes and challenges of a history that includes us all!

Set in wartime Devon, this is the diary of plucky young Lily Tregenza whose town is invaded by escaping evacuees and American soldiers. When Lily enlists the help of two young, black American soldiers to find her missing cat, there are surprising results.

Amina lives with her family in Somalia, a country that has endured drought and civil war for decades. Amina's father is betrayed and arrested. His artwork is seen as 'un-Islamic' and Amina no longer knows who she can trust. Food is scarce, her mother is pregnant and her grandmother ill. Amina must find a way to survive.

Historical novel based on the medieval Children's Crusades. Stefan, a charismatic, religious leader, has convinced Gabriel that only children will be able to liberate the Holy Land from the Infidel. Together, they raise an army and make the arduous journey over the Alps. The power of Stefan's promises dim as they suffer many misadventures.

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

For many refugees the alphabet represents the start of a new language and a new future, but Anisa's Alphabet is different. A poignant and highly imaginative telling of one girl's story which will appeal to children and adults alike. Come with Anisa, and see things through her eyes. In this picture book, Anisa takes the reader though the alphabet, describing her journey from an unnamed war-torn country to a refugee camp, then on to an overcrowded boat towards supposed freedom and security.

This is the true story of a young nurse, Sister Alice Ross-King, who provided invaluable medical help to countless soldiers during the First World War. This story of heroism, love, and bravery is told with direct references and samples from her diary, letters, and photographs. She went on to become the most decorated woman in Australia.

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

When the chief's niece, Panacea, is captured by the Romans with her fiance, Tragicomix, the Gaulish warriors Asterix and Obelix join the Roman legion in order to find them.

In 1798 orphaned Barney Bean now has a flourishing farm in the New South Wales colony and everything he ever dreamed of ... except his childhood friend Elsie. But when Elsie falls ill and Barney rushes to be by her side, he finally learns the deadly secret she has been hiding. Who is this strange and beautiful girl who will not speak? And could France ever attack the isolated colony?

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.

Harry Woods is a proud spitfire pilot in the fledgling Royal Air Force of 1939. All he has ever wanted to do, since he saw his first plane, is be a pilot. But, now, all he can remember are the roar of the engines and the rattle of machine guns. His friend, Lenny, has lost a leg in a dogfight with the German Luftwaffe. Harry is determined to fight on bravely for all he holds dear but the dangers are terrible and the thrills exhausting.

Battle of the Jade Horse Author: Alison Lloyd Hu and Ren are friends during the second century in China. Their families come from different social classes and each must make choices that may hurt their friendship. How will their friendship be able to survive?

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

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

Nate is 11 years old, four-and-a-half feet tall, and the all-time record holder for detentions in school history. He's a self-described genius and sixth grade Renaissance Man. Nate, who lives with his dad and older sister, enjoys pestering his family and teachers with his sarcasm.

When Captain Mack is released from prison camp at the end of the war, no-one is sure what to expect, least of all his son Billy. He might be the same man who went off to war full of hope and pride or his experiences may have changed him forever.

Birrung, a young indigenous girl, lives with the family of Richard Johnson, chaplain to the Australian colony in 1790. When Birrung befriends orphaned Barney and Elsie, a mute, the Johnson family also takes them in. As Barney's feeling for Birrung grow, he is advised that his friendship with a 'native' girl, and all that she taught him about her language and lore, must remain a secret, forever.

Edie and her little brother, Tom, are evacuated to rural Wales during the Blitz on London. Many parents sent their children to live in a safer place when German bombs rained down on the major cities of England during World War II. For Edie and Tom it is not a happy solution. Edie struggles to mother and protect Tom in harsh countryside with an austere family and an unfriendly school community.

It is after Henry VIII's death and King Edward is very sickly. Queen Mary will come to the throne, ousting Lady Jane Grey. Mary's executioners will be busy removing her perceived enemies. Even Princess Elizabeth, the future queen of England, is imprisoned in the Tower. Tilly Middleton, who lives in the Tower of London where her father works, finds she has an important role to play.

When a Zeppelin aircraft crashes over a British town, the German soldiers meet those they have been bombing, including one very angry girl.

Loaded with tricks, riddles, magic and mayhem this race-against-time adventure is set in Melbourne in 1871. Twelve-year-old Billy Pyke has a talent for sorting things out, whether it's his chaotic family home or the busy book stall at Paddy's Market, where he works for Mr Cole. When his new friend Kezia warns him of a sinister magician called the Obscurosmith, Billy is shocked by her stories of magical deals gone horribly wrong. Then, on the night of the fire, Billy realises that if the Obscurosmith is to be stopped, he'll have to do it himself. The duel begins but, even with Kezia help, will Billy's magic be enough?

In the last forty years, Australia has experienced a period of rapid change, with many social and political events impacting on our lives. This book covers the period from 1973, before computers and the internet existed in Australia, to the present time. Our resources have made us a rich country, but it remains to be seen how long the good times can last, before a boom turns into a bust.

Boudica, a young girl, living in ancient Britain, finds herself in great difficulty. The Romans have invaded, her father has been accused of murder and she doesn't know who to trust. A mysterious Druid appears in Boudica's village and she must decide whether or not to enter his murky world. She must make the right decision so that one day she can bring honour to her tribe and become their warrior queen.

Grandmother's bowl has been passed from mother to daughter over generations. It sits on the table each evening between Sachiko's family who are grateful for the food they eat. One day soldiers arrive and planes begin flying overhead telling the people war is coming to the seaside town. The family and community are suddenly devastated at the dropping of the atomic bomb, and the effects follow the survivors for years to come. Later, when father returns to the rubble, grandmother's bowl is found miraculously in one piece. This true story was put together over several interviews with the real owner of the bowl who wanted to tell her family story of resilience, devastation and the quest for peace.

When Perry steps into a crumbling ruin while on holiday in France, he is not expecting to be transported back 1700 years to Roman times. While he hunts desperately for a way home, he must blend in as a slave, even if it means eating mice for dinner! Gradually, Perry is caught up in the fascinating world of grand Villa Rubia and a life he could never have imagined. But when he makes a new friend, he thinks he might already know her terrible fate. Perry is faced with an impossible choice: to find his way home or stay and guard his friend's life and risk being trapped in the past forever!

During the Irish potato famine, Bridget's family has been turned out of their home and their only refuge is the workhouse, where living conditions are hard and the food sparse. For Bridget and her sister, Maeve, their one chance is to take a ship to a new country and become Australians. They must survive the journey then face the many challenges that await them in a new, far away land.

When Russell witnesses his mother burning wooden bails from a friendly cricket match between Australia and England, little does he know just how important that night becomes in sporting history.

When young Isaac Manley sailed from England with Captain James Cook on the Endeavour in 1768, no one knew if the mysterious southern continent really existed. During his three years at sea, Isaac witnessed floggings, huge storms, press-gangs and violent clashes as well as the tropical beauty of Hawaii and the wonders of New Zealand.

When Joe is dragged into a deadly plot by rebellious convicts at the Castle Hill prison farm, he quickly realises it does not pay to be their enemy. He has been quietly working out his sentence as a shepherd boy and does not want to draw any additional attention. However, Joe eventually finds himself amidst a desperate bid for freedom in the first convict uprising against the colony of New South Wales.

Trim was a cat born for adventure...This is the true story of a courageous, mischievous and fearless cat called Trim, who sailed with Matthew Flinders on his voyages to map the coastline of Australia and beyond.

Norman John Gillies was one of the last children ever born on St Kilda, five years before the whole population was evacuated forever. People had lived on these islands for over 4000 years, developing a thriving, tightly-knit society. Why and how did this ancient way of life suddenly cease in 1930?

Cecily, Jeremy and a young refugee, May, have been sent to live with Uncle Peregrine in the country, safe from the war in London. But, when Cecily and May find two mysterious boys hiding out in a nearby castle ruin, and Jeremy runs away to London to help in the war effort, several destinies come together to make an extraordinary adventure.

Cleopatra is in hiding, having fled the city in fear of losing her life. The young girl is uncertain of her future until she finally receives news from home and realises her time has come to face her enemies and take her place as Queen of Egypt.

YIPPEE! It's the holidays! Time for glorious summer days and fun with friends. Coco's mum is still travelling, but she arranges the BEST surprises. One surprise is in a box delivered by Coco's best friend, N. The next surprise is an invention called the Skip Back Machine. What does it do? And the biggest surprise is tickets to a concert by Coco's favourite pop star, Prince Louis!But . . . what if N isn't allowed to go? Coco has a big decision to make . . .

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

The story of Andrew Pope, commander of an infantry platoon, who took part in the Normandy landings on 6 June, 1944, later known as D-Day and the turning point of the Second World War. Andrew tells how his men prepared for and of the fierce battles that took place once they were ashore. This is Andrew's part in the biggest amphibious military operation in the history of the world.

It's1930 and Daisy's worst nightmares have come true. She's alone on the streets, separated from her family, and things get worse when the police send her to live at the Melbourne Orphanage. At least she doesn't have to scavenge for food scraps anymore but, with no family and no freedom, Daisy is miserable. When she hears some shocking news, Daisy decides it's time to plot a daring escape.

It's 1930, Daisy has been adopted and whisked away to a beautiful mansion. She's to be a companion to Annie, a girl with a mysterious illness. While Daisy's new life is full of luxuries she could never have imagined, what she wants most is the thing her new parents can't provide. She wants the freedom to find her real family before it's too late.

It's 1930 and Daisy has finally had news that her dad is alive. He's gravely injured somewhere in the bush and, although she doesn't know quite where, Daisy is determined to find him. With help from old friends, she sets off on her way. But life on the road is hard and, before long, disaster strikes.

Humorous description of the creation of da Vinci's Horse of Sforza statue. Danny da Vinci and his best friend, Mick Angelo, are apprentices in Uncle Leo's art studio when he is commissioned to make a giant, marble horse.

Danny da Vinci and his best friend Mick Angelo are artistic adventurers who share a passion for painting and sculpture. Every year the Duke of Milan holds an art exhibition, and this year the Duke has asked Danny's Uncle Leo to paint his portrait. Danny and Mick want to enter something in the exhibition too, something special. Danny's sister Lisa has an idea, but why should they listen to her? She's such a moaner!

Set in Ancient Egypt, the book follows the murder investigation of the Pharaoh's daughter. The story follows Meryet-Neith, the harem's beautician, who needs to find the truth or risk becoming a scapegoat for the murder.

A "Give Yourself Goosebumps" story All Wrapped Up and No Place to Go... While you're on vacation you get a chance to check out an exhibit of Egyptian artifacts and a pretty cool mummy. But when you get to where the mummy is supposed to be all you find is a pile of bandages and a really old diary filled with entries that seem to have been written by Mr. Mummy himself! If you touch the bandages they'll wrap themselves around you and poof -- you're a mummy. If you decide to use the clues in the diary to find the wrapped wonder you'll find yourself searching through the pyramids in Egypt. Will you be stuck there -- forever? The choice is yours in this scary GOOSEBUMPS adventure that's packed with over 20 super-spooky endings!

Set somewhere on a large island to the north of what would one day be known as Australia, Loa decides to leave his community after learning that the girl he wants is to marry a man from another tribe. Taking his canoe and survival gear, Loa heads off across the sea. He also takes with him a 'rubbish dog' - one of the pack who scavenge for at the camp. It's a pragmatic decision, not a desire for companionship, as the dog can be fed to sharks or crocodiles as a decoy, or, as a last resort, serve as food for Loa himself. Driven out to sea by currents and winds, Loa eventually lands on an unknown shore. There seem to be no other people, but when the dog has puppies Loa and the dog forge a bond based on their mutual need to survive - the dog needs someone to protect her and her pups, and Loa discovers that hunting with a dog is far more effective than hunting alone. So there is collaboration, and also companionship. And when Loa eventually finds a new tribe to join, the dog goes with him.

To outsiders, Mary is a queen and a threat, but to her devoted dog Folly, she is his world to the world outside her luxurious prison, Mary Queen of Scots is either a shameless beauty who killed her husband, or the rightful queen of England and Scotland, tragically held captive by Elizabeth the First. But to the dog who loved her, Mary is simply his mistress, and the centre of his life. While Mary desperately plots to seize both her freedom and the throne, her dog Folly's world is one of chasing mice behind the tapestries and enjoying turkey legs with quinces for supper. Until the day comes when they try to take his Queen away ...

Chiyo Tamura is a young Japanese girl who is afraid of shaming her family through her impulsive actions. When her sister is chosen to marry a wealthy and important man, she is sent away from her simple country life to an exclusive boarding school for wealthy young girls, and is told to emulate the manners of the wealthiest of them all, Hoshi. But when Chiyo is invited to attend a special event that includes the arrival of the Friendship Dolls from America, she must face many personal challenges in order to protect the dolls from a jealous Hoshi but still retain the honour of herself and her family. A story that teaches the value of friendship and of being true to yourself, in a time where prejudice can cause division and strife.

In 1941, eleven-year-old Macy James lives near the Oregon coast with her father, the curator of a small museum. Miss Tokyo, one of 58 exquisite Friendship Dolls given to America by Japan in 1926, is part of the museum's collection and one of Macy's most treasured connections to her mother who recently passed away. However, when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour, Macy discovers the ugly side of prejudice and fear in many of her neighbours, as they demand the doll and all it represents, be destroyed and she is the only one left standing up for Miss Tokyo, her mother's memory and the hope of forgiveness.

An inspiring read about the famous partnership of Simpson and his donkey. Written in the voices of Jack and the donkey, their story, and the horrors and comradeship, of Gallipoli, come to life.

The firstborn baby daughter of a priestess is cast out and, after raiders kill her adopted family, she is abandoned, anonymous and mute. Called No-Name, the cursed child, she is raised a slave. At twelve, she learns that her real name is Aissa, the dragonfly. Every year, the Bull King takes two young children to brave the bloody bull dances in his royal court. None has ever returned. But, for Aissa, it is the only escape. She is resilient, resourceful and fast but, to survive the bull ring, Aissa will have to learn the mystery of her true nature.

A drover's life is one of hardship and daring, but also one of mateship and adventure. This tells the story of Edna Jessop who was one of the few female drovers who worked at this dusty and dangerous job.

Barney's home in Coventry has been bombed along with most of the other houses in the street so he and his mother are on a train to Cornwall. But even a train is not safe as it comes under fire by a couple of Messerschmitt aircraft, only just escaping destruction in a tunnel. Barney's fear of the dark is gradually eased when a stranger begins a story as they wait for the all clear. And what a story it is. A young soldier in World War 1 became the most decorated Private of that war due to his bravery, loyalty and mateship. But one of his actions, at the time seen to be the right thing to do, turned out to have some terrible consequences. It is up to him to make things right.

It's 1944 and Elizabeth's father is fighting with the German army on the eastern front. In Dresden, Elizabeth, Karli and their mother are fleeing the city as the allied bombs fall. They face a torturous journey through a perilous, snow-covered landscape to reach the safety of the west. It would be hard enough, without an elephant in tow.

Kasem is thrilled when he is given responsibility for baby elephant, Pooky, and promises the elephant that he will always look after him. Kasem has to remember many important things and wonders whether he will be able to keep his promise to Pooky.

For Emilio Garcia Lopez, it's an ordinary school day in Mexico City. But, when his police-officer cousin arrives, flanked by a tall man in the uniform of the Federal Police, Emilio's long nightmare begins. Emilio's mother has been kidnapped in broad daylight by unidentified criminals, who appear to know a great deal about her business and who have mistaken her for a wealthy businesswoman.

The 1840's potato famine in Ireland and the death of her father dramatically change thirteen year old Esty's life. The remaining family members migrate to Australia in the hope of making their fortune. The goldfields, Ballarat and the Eureka Stockade feature in the life of this feisty heroine.

Molly and her father have emigrated to Australia to try their luck as gold prospectors in Ballarat, Victoria. Life on the diggings is hard and Molly misses her mother, who died before they left England. A Chinese teenager, Chen, shows Molly and her Papa how to pan for gold and helps them when their food and money run out. Not everyone on the goldfields is friendly, however. Chen and other Chinese diggers are often bullied and the police lock up miners who haven't paid the exorbitant gold licence fee. Before long, Molly, Papa and Chen are caught up in a protest that will become known as the Eureka Rebellion - a legendary battle that will profoundly affect them all.

Evan is 14 when his father decides they should deliver some comforting goods to the Allied soldiers. They are ill-prepared for the danger, horrors and hardship they will encounter at war.

On a stormy night off the coast of southern Australia, a ship transporting a cargo of exotic animals tosses and turns in enormous seas. Rhino senses they are in grave danger... Not far away, ten-year-old Evie and her grandfather shelter in their crumbling, once-grand old home. They know too well how deadly storms can be. When all is calm, Evie treks over the dunes to the sea and makes a discovery that will change her life, and Rhino's, forever. Will the tragedies of their pasts finally be put to rest?

The summer of 1899 is hot in eleven year old Calpurnia Tate's sleepy, Texas town. She begins a nature diary and, intrigued by an invasion of large, yellow grasshoppers, spends more time with her remote and cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist. When they are about to make an amazing discovery, the reality of Callie's situation catches up with her. She's a girl, expected to cook and clean and sew.

Her words have become some of the most important in modern history: discover the incredible life story of Anne Frank, whose bravery has inspired so many. Her incredible story comes to life in this beautifully illustrated book, with narrative biography, timelines, facts and quotes.

In 1969 history was made when the first humans stepped on the moon. Back on earth, one woman was running the numbers that ensured they got there and back in one piece. As a child, Katherine Johnson loved maths. She went on to be one of the most important people in the history of space travel. Discover her incredible life story in this beautifully illustrated book complete with narrative biography, timelines and facts.

From growing up in India and studying in London to becoming a political activist in South Africa and taking on the battle for independence in India, Mahatma Gandhi's legacy has lived on well beyond his years. Read the life story of this brilliant, strong-willed and influential man in this beautifully illustrated book, complete with real-life stories, timelines and facts.

Malala was born in a beautiful valley in Pakistan, she looks positively at her life and works hard to get an education. At 15 years old her life changes forever. Malala will not be beaten she becomes a voice for girls and an inspiration for those facing adversity.

Mary Seacole is now known for her medical work in the Crimean war, and as a brilliant woman who combated the racial prejudice she experienced in her lifetime. But for a long time her story was lost. From growing up in Kingston, Jamaica as the daughter of a doctress to helping soldiers in the war, discover the details of the amazing life that Mary Seacole led in this beautifully illustrated book with real-life stories, timelines and facts.

The story of a woman who became an inspiration. Michelle Obama was born in Chicago, and was fighting for equality long before she became the First Lady of the United States of America. She inspired people everywhere as a campaigner for diversity and then as a bold voice in the White House, and she continues to use her influence to change the world.

One little boy who loved the idea of flying became the first person to set foot on the moon. On 20 July 1969 Neil Armstrong made history, his 'giant leap for mankind'. From his childhood playing with model planes to becoming one of the most famous astronauts of all time, discover the incredible story of Neil Armstrong's life in this beautifully illustrated book, complete with narrative biography, facts and timelines.

Rosa Parks, the woman known for refusing to give up her seat on the bus, triggered a great shift in the fight for civil rights. Raised in Alabama, Rosa Parks knew all about the racism of her society from an early age. Discover how she became the brilliant activist we know today, in this beautifully illustrated book with real-life stories, timelines and facts to bring her extraordinary story to life.

Discover the extraordinary life of the man behind some of the world's most incredible scientific discoveries: Stephen Hawking was a physicist, cosmologist and author who made the study of the universe understandable to everyone. From his studies at Cambridge University, to the diagnosis of his motor neurone disease, to his winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom, read about the life of the man who is known the world over for his incredible contribution to science and the world in this beautifully illustrated book with real-life stories, timelines and facts.

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

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

Nomi is one of nine children living in Poland in the 1920s. Their family is so large, they need to live across two apartments. Their father is a Rabbi and there are many customs to follow, many revolving around food. But, the biggest adventure of all is when big sister Adina is told she is to be married, at the age of fifteen, to someone she has never met. Based on the author's real family, the Rabinovitches dance, laugh and cook their way through an extraordinary life in 1920s Poland.

Charlie, Masa and Alf are best mates - loyal and adventurous. They're the Fighting Stingrays. In between school, swimming and fishing on idyllic Thursday Island, they have a ripper time role-playing bombing missions and other war games. But when Japan enters World War II, the Fighting Stingrays are told that one of their own is now the real-life enemy. Drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse in the Torres Strait, their friendship and loyalties are tested as the threat of invasion looms closer.

Hilly's costume designer mother is on a trip from New Zealand to Reykjavik to work on a film about a mythological warrior girl called Brunhilda. At the last minute, Hilly gets to join her. What she thought would be weeks of sitting around on boring film sets soon changes when she lays eyes on Mjolnir, or Hammer, the huge and spectacular Icelandic horse who will star in the film. Then, Hilly finds herself caught up in the world of Gudrun, the cultural consultant on set, and before she knows it, Hilly is far more invested in the story of Brunhilda and her fight for survival than ever could have been predicted.

December 1940, London: Christopher Larkham finds an ancient Roman ring inscribed with a phoenix. As he takes shelter from the firestorm of the Blitz, the ring glows, and pushing open a door, he finds himself in 1666 and facing the Great Fire of London. Fire-and-brimstone preacher, Brother Blowbladder, and his men of the Righteous Temple have prayed for the ancient gods of fire to bring flames down upon London, a city of sin. Could Christopher be their messenger? Or was it the strange girl on the quay who drew him back in time? Why do the Righteous men wear the same phoenix symbol as the engraving on Christophers ring?

May 1941. The London Blitz is reaching its fiery climax. Christopher Larkham, a Fire Watcher is facing a dilemma. He is trying to untangle the truth of an ancient Roman ring he has found, while confronting the greatest fires in the city's history. Christopher tries to go back to 1666 to find his new friends and learn more about the power of his phoenix ring. Instead , he is transported to a smaller, older river port known as Lundenwic, where the Saxon community faces an invasion by the dreaded Vikings. Why has the ring brought him here, and how can he get back to his own time? Phoenix is the second, thrilling instalment of the Fire Watcher trilogy, blending time-travel, history, mystery, action and adventure.

Tonight is the night. The family has to flee. Set in biblical times, a small family sets off across a desert in search of refuge from persecution in their own country. Beset by heat and thirst, and threatening tanks, they travel towards a refugee camp and safety, while they wait for asylum in another country. An ancient story becomes a fable for our times.

The diggers were fed up. Ever since the gold rushes began, police had hounded them about their licences. The diggers of Ballarat took up arms, built a stockade and swore to defend themselves. That twenty minute battle changed Australia forever.

Maggie has grown up without her father. He is alive but obsessed with finding the creation of Dr Frankenstein. When her father is forced to come back and care for Maggie, she becomes mixed up in his latest quest to find the monster. The adventure takes Maggie from continent to continent where she meets extraordinary people, both kind and cruel.

Maisie has always loved horses. She is also a talented artist. The opportunity arises for her to study in Paris. While in Paris two things happen that dramatically change her life. She finds the childhood diary of famous horse artist, Rose Bonifait who passed away in the nineteenth century and she meets the beautiful black stallion, Claude. As the two girls' stories emerge, tragedies unfold, both past and present. This is a powerful story showing the lengths these two girls go to when they know it is the right thing to do.

Maud Mulligan is 12 years old and her life in the slums of London is going from bad to worse. Fortune telling is all the rage but Maud wonders if it's better not to know what's coming. When she is suddenly pulled into the car of a rich and commanding woman, Maud must use all of her wits, determination, new found friends and special gift to take hold of her own destiny.

Frieda, her sickly mother and her father travel from Germany to Australia, looking for a better life. Nervous and excited about Adelaide, a drought-stricken town with hordes of flies and barefoot children, Frieda is keen to make friends. But, as the First World War takes hold, the Germans are now seen as the enemy. Rumours begin to circulate that Frieda's father is a spy. Frieda has her own battles to fight. She begins to wonder whether she should change her name and hide all trace of her culture.

In 1808, Grace and Hannah, are on board the ship, Indispensable, on their way to New South Wales. The girls wonder what their new place will be like. They hear the convict women saying there are giant rats and other strange animals there. When sickness strikes the ship, it seems unlikely that anyone will survive to reach the shores of the new land.

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.

Butter O'Bryan lives in a very small castle with his father and three aunts. Butter has been told there are ghosts at the nearby isolated Howlers Beach, but are there? How can the children Butter plays cricket with on the beach simply vanish? Who are these children and why do they refuse his help? Butter is certain they're hiding a secret and he's determined to uncover it.

Time is running out for Aisha, the Somali refugee girl, who has found herself transported back to the time of the Blitz in London. Although Aisha is full of fear and horror because she already knows the future of her original school building, she is still compelled to try to save her new friend, Richard, and his aged grandfather, during the terrible bombing of the Second World War.

A gifted student, Nia longs to attend high school so she can follow her dream and become a writer. She has notebooks filled with stories she's created about the mythological Dewi Kadita, Princess of the Southern Sea. But her family has barely enough money for food, let alone an education, so Nia's days are spent running their food cart and raising her younger brother. Following a miraculous escape from a bus accident, Nia is gifted with good-luck magic. Or at least that's what everyone's saying. Soon their family business is booming and there might even be enough money to return to school. But how long can her good luck last? When a secret promise threatens everything she's hoped for, Nia must find a way to break the mould and write her own future.

Twelve-year-old Lola is desperate to become a jockey. And when her grandmother takes her to Italy for the summer, it seems like those dreams are coming true. The ultimate street race, the Palio, awaits her! But as Lola learns more about the Palio, she discovers dark family secrets that has hung over their name ever since the Second World War. Can Lola prove herself against the toughest of riders? And can she heal the heartbreak that has haunted her family all these years?

Nazi Germany, 1942. As World War Two rages, Sophie Scholl reunites with her beloved brother Hansin Munich. Soon she meets his young student friends. Like her they can take no more of the war. Then leaflets calling for a revolt against Hitler start appearing, put out by a mysterious group called the White Rose. The Gestapo is determined to hunt them down and Sophie finds herself in terrible danger.

After Hercules proves he's a true hero and regains his godship, all seems right in the world. That is, until Zeus tells Meg that she can't be with Hercules because she's, well, mortal. Luckily, Hera has a solution, offering Meg a chance to prove herself worthy of a spot on Mt. Olympus--as a god. All Meg has to do is complete a mysterious quest. The mission? Oh, just to rescue her ex's current wife from the Underworld. The ex-boyfriend she saved by selling her soul to Hades. The ex-boyfriend who immediately moved on to someone else while she was stuck in the Underworld. Can Meg put her past behind her and use her quick-wit to defeat monsters and gods alike, including the nefarious Hades? Will she finally figure out her place and contribution to the world? Or will her fear of commitment have her running away from an eternity of godhood with Herc?

Isaac, twelve, has joined Captain Cook's ship as a master's servant. He's not considered good enough to fetch hay for the goat who provides fresh milk. Over time, a special friendship grows between the goat and Isaac. Some coarse language in context.

It is the 1850s on the Australian goldfields. People are caught up in the, often violent, grip of gold fever. Miju and her brother, kidnapped from their homeland, are working to earn their passage home. Racism and robbery make their quest more difficult.

"It is the start of 2020 and Harper is excited about her final year at Riverlark Primary. But one by one things go wrong. Her best friends are made school captains and don't seem to have time for her anymore. Her parents take jobs overseas, so she is bundled to stay with her grandmother, who she hardly knows. Then Covid arrives bringing more things to worry about. Harper's special year is turning out to be nothing like she hoped it would be. And then there is the ghost. Who is the boy in the library? Why is he here? Will he help Harper find a way to be happy with her goodbye year?"

Lucy Goodly is a magician. Not a very knowledgeable one, and rather young too, but she is learning. Still in the employ of Lord Grave (and Boot Girl of Grave Hall - for all appearances), she and the members of MAAM (Magicians Against the Abuse of Magic) are investigating the thefts of magical items and soil from churchyards. Can Lucy and Lord Grave solve the mystery and stop a seriously magical plot?

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.

It's 1808 and Grace has arrived at a bark hut on the edge of a river to start her life as a servant. But, even though she tries hard, nothing Grace does for her new master ever seems right, especially if it involves Glory, his beloved horse. When the master goes away and leaves Grace in charge, she is tested when she has to save her mistress from danger.

Gracie has been told many stories about the emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, who will stop at nothing to rule the world. When the dreaded man comes to the island where Gracie lives, she wants to run away but she has nowhere to go.

Sixteen-year-old Nipper and his Gallipoli mates Lanky, Spud, Bluey and Wallaby Joe are starving, freezing and ill-equipped. By November 1915 they know that there is more to winning a war than courage. The Gallipoli campaign has been lost. Nipper has played cricket with the Turks in the opposing dug-out, dodged rocket fire and rescued desperate and drowning men when the blizzard snow melted. Based on the extraordinary last weeks of the Gallipoli campaign, this is the fascinating story of how 150,000 men, their horses and equipment were secretly moved to waiting ships without a single life lost.

It is 1665 and the Great Plague is spreading. Thirteen year old Alice Paynton wants to return to London, to the happy life she had there, raised by her father and her Aunt Nell in the time of King Charles II. Her girlhood days turn to fear and horror as the sickness strikes, and Alice's account includes the story of the bubonic plague and the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Halo, abandoned as a baby and raised by centaurs, captured and torn from her happy home, disguises herself as a boy to have any freedom. Still under constant threat of enslavement and exposure, she lives the myths, legends and culture of ancient Greece from warring Sparta to Athens, searching for her identity.

Through letters written to loved ones, three characters reveal their most intimate thoughts about the conflict in World War II. Franz, a young Nazi soldier, has begun to question the rightness of the cause. Helga is a Russian girl, bent on joining the resistance. Susanna, a Jewess, has been separated from her husband and children, and condemned to the cruelty of a concentration camp.

Hanna Kaminsky loves gymnastics, her best friend, chicken soup and reading. But, in September 1939, her happy life disappears. The Nazis have invaded Poland and are herding all Jewish people into ghettos in the cities. Hanna's family are forced into hiding in the country but this means trusting others. Hanna and her family are caught and sent to the Warsaw Ghetto where they must use whatever skills they have to survive.

Twelve-year-old Louie lives with her brothers, Bert and Teddy, and their Hungarian grandparents, in the Majestic Boutique Hotel, an old-world establishment surrounded by magnolia trees and an aura of peace. But when Louie finds an old rose-gold locket covered in mysterious writing, she learns that it isn't just the magnolias her grandparents have carefully cultivated at the Majestic -with their peace and tranquility comes secrets they would prefer remain buried. As Louie and her brothers attempt to discover the truth, they are thrown back in time to 1944, into the middle of their grandparents' experiences in Nazi-occupied Budapest. The old locket holds the mystery of the young heroes of Budapest's secret Jewish underground, and the history Louie's grandparents want to keep hidden. And until it can be revealed, there can be no peace for anyone - in the past, present or future.

When Susannah and her brother are orphaned, she is forced to live on the charity of distant relatives in England while he seeks his fortune in America. When news arrives that her brother is dangerously ill, Susannah will stop at nothing, even highway robbery, to get the money she desperately needs to save his life. It is 1670, when times are hard and punishments harsh.

It's 1808 and Grace loves caring for baby, Alice, and working with her mistress, Beth, on the property at Rose Hill. Grace tries so hard to be a good servant but still her master doesn't trust her. Grace thinks he blames her for what happened to his beloved horse. It's injured and growing sicker every day. Grace wants to do something to help but she doesn't know who to turn to.

Ten-year-old George Calder can't believe his luck -- he and his little sister, Phoebe, are on the famous Titanic, crossing the ocean with their Aunt Daisy. The ship is full of exciting places to explore, but when George ventures into the first class storage cabin, a terrible boom shakes the entire boat. Suddenly, water is everywhere, and George's life changes forever.

George Calder must be the luckiest kid alive - he and his little sister, Phoebe, are sailing with their aunt on the Titanic, the greatest ship ever built! George can't resist exploring every inch of the incredible boat, even if it gets him into trouble. But one night while George is off exploring, a terrible boom shakes the entire boat. Soon the impossible is happening: The Titanic is sinking. George has always gotten out of trouble before. Can he survive this nightmare?

When Elsie, an orphan on the streets of Victorian London, hears about the mysterious Ice Monster - a woolly mammoth found at the North Pole - she's determined to discover more... A chance encounter brings Elsie face to face with the creature, and sparks the adventure of a lifetime - from London to the heart of the Arctic!

If you enjoyed the award-winning Light Horse Boy and Lighthouse Girl, you will also enjoy In the Lamplight. This book draws on Australian war history with the protagonist being Rose, a young English girl turned nurse who cares for and falls in love with Jim - the Light Horse Boy. On the long journey back to Australia they experience the appalling loss of life due to the Spanish flu epidemic. But that is not the only challenge they face together.

It's 1914. Gretta lives a privileged life in Singapore, the daughter of a businessman; Tilly lives a modest life in Brisbane, the daughter of a baker. When war breaks out and both countries turn on their families for being German, the two girls find themselves taken from their homes, interned at a camp in rural New South Wales. Far away from everything they have ever known, Gretta and Tilly are forced to face prejudice, overcome adversity and to make their own community.

In medieval times, it was the job of the blacksmith and, later, the armourer to make more and more sophisticated armour until a revolutionary development reduced it to just so much scrap metal.

When twelve year old Beatriz stumbles across a wild mare with strange markings, she can't believe it's real. Yet, from that moment on, the strongest connection grows between them, and Beatriz begins to uncover an incredible history. Centuries ago, Felipa and her horse, Cara Blanca, were running for their lives. As the fates of Beatriz, Felipa and their horses become entwined, Beatriz realises that the future of the world's rarest horses depends on her.

Jemma lands a babysitting job in Rosethorne, one of the famous witches' houses near her home. The house is supposedly haunted by a sad little girl. When Jemma discovers a beautiful ivory rose locket, she sees a terrifying flashback and wakes up in 1895, where she becomes an apprentice maidservant. But. all is not well in the grand house. Young heiress Georgiana is constantly sick and Jemma suspects she's being poisoned.

An orphan child full of mischief, Jack lives with his crotchety widow aunt in eighteenth-century England. His naughtiness knows no limits, and when one day he goes a step too far, Aunt Constance decides that she's had enough: from now on, his bachelor uncle can take care of him. Uncle Edmund is in no way prepared for a boy with boundless energy and an impish streak - and anyway, he's off to the Himalayas to search for rare plants! But Aunt Constance is absolutely determined, and Jack's uncle has no choice - he will have to take the boy with him.

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.

Indiana Jones meets Mission Impossible (meets a squabbling family from the suburbs). Jake Atlas, Tomb Robber, Treasure Hunter and Trouble-Maker is a schoolboy with terrible grades and even worse behaviour. He has a way of causing trouble that drives people nuts especially his sister Pan. Now he and Pan are members of a super high-tech treasure hunting team searching for a lost tomb in the deserts of Egypt so they can save their parents from being turned into mummies by an evil cult.

This is a time-slip story of friendship and of Australia's early gold-mining days. Jeremy makes contact with a boy who lived in Jeremy's house a hundred years before.

Josie's stays in London during the terrible bombing attacks of 1941, while her mother nurses her ailing grandmother. Josie struggles with her own feelings of inadequacy and her brother's very unpopular decision not to go to war.

When young Julius Caesar fall mysteriously ill, his mother is convinced he's been cursed by the gods. But, when civil war engulfs Ancient Rome, Caesar seizes the opportunity to prove her wrong and fulfil his destiny as leader of the mightiest empire the world has ever known.

Illustrated story of a Muslim boy's adventures and mischief-making, fishing trips, religious education and work on his family's rubber plantation in Malaysia. However, the traditional way of life in his village (kampung) is steadily disappearing.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Johnny Trott, a bell-boy at London's prestigious Savoy Hotel, befriends a guest, the Russian aristocrat, Countess Kandinsky. She trusts him to look after her special cat, Prince Kaspar, and a series of events are set in motion that take Johnny and Kaspar all around the world, and change his life forever.

In 1911, Kerenza's da (father) can no longer get work as a miner in Cornwall. She doesn't want to leave her village and take a ship to Australia but Kerenza can be brave for her dad's sake. Where he sees a farm, Kerenza and her Mam see endless mallee scrub, flies and hard work. It's almost too much to bear but the Mallee has its own beauty, and family and new-found friends might just make it her home.

Located in China in the period of the Mongols, this story follows Haoyou's intrepid adventures across oceans and the skies.

Eleven year old Isabelle is a lacemaker like her mother and grandmother in the town of Versailles. It is the year 1789 and the eve of the French revolution. Isabelle is caught between being the Queen's daughter's companion, amid the luxury of the royal court, and having to earn a living lacemaking to keep her family alive.

The story of a Tudor girl doomed from birth by her royal blood. When the King names her family as producers of the next heir to the throne in the absence of any off-spring of his own, Jane, at nine years of age, becomes a political pawn. She is bought to marry a nobleman's son and then traded. Finally, she has no choice but to try to snare the King of England.

Alfred is an air observer, flying above the war, taking photos of the enemy lines. But the Germans are also in the sky.

136,000 Australian horses were sent to fight during the First World War. Just one came home. From the high country in Victoria to the desert sands of Egypt, from the waters off Gallipoli to the battlefields of France, This is the extraordinary story of Sandy, the only returning warhorse.

The legend of Harold Lasseter who found a fabulous reef of gold in the desert. Lasseter returned with six companions but he could not find the site again. Despite help from nomads he never makes it home.

It's 1956, the Melbourne Olympic Games are over but, for Lina, the excitement is just beginning. She has a new best friend, the school magazine is a huge hit and her parents have a surprise that will change everything. When Lina has the chance to meet her idol, the famous writer Stella Davis, it seems that all her dreams have come true.

Letty and her sister, Lavinia, have arrived in Sydney town in 1841. It's a dangerous place for two girls on their own. When Lavinia gets a job, Letty is left feeling useless and alone. Then, she meets Mary, a strange woman with a secret.

It's 1841 and if Letty wants to keep her job, she must travel with her mistress to a sheep farm in the Blue Mountains, leaving her sister, Lavinia, behind in Sydney. Letty has heard that the bush is a wild place, full of strange beasts and dangers, not to mention the bushrangers who hide out in it. And, as Letty soon learns, life on the land has plenty of challenges.

It's 1841 and Letty must leave her job on the sheep-run because drought has brought hard times. She and the Grey family set out over the Blue Mountains but, when disaster strikes, Letty needs to be much stronger than she could ever have imagined. Letty wonders if she'll ever see Sydney or her sister, Lavinia, again.

In 1914, best mates, Jim and Charlie, abandon the Australian outback for the excitement and adventure of the war to end all wars. Jim is not quite old enough but he lies about his age. Jim and Charlie think joining the Light Horse Regiment is a bit of an adventure and that the war will be over in a few months. But, they quickly discover the brutal realities of life on the frontline.

At the end of the nineteenth century, Harriet Wilmot and her family have come to live in an inherited house in a New South Wales town. Despite the heat and unconventional schooling, Harriet is in awe of Australia and much prefers it to dreary old London. Not all the Wilmots agree. Harriet breaks rules and expectations in her efforts to convince her family to stay in this new and exciting land.

It's 1956 and the Melbourne Olympic Games have finally arrived. The whole city is buzzing with excitement and Lina can't wait to go along as a reporter for the school magazine. Now is her chance to prove to everyone that she's a real writer. Nothing could be more important until Lina makes a new friend who changes the way she sees the world.

It's 1956...and Lina dreams of being a writer, but her strict Italian parents have other ideas. Now that she's won a scholarship to an expensive girls school, Lina has other troubles, too. But the Melbourne Olympic Games could be an opportunity for Lina to follow her dream of working on the school paper. Journey with Lina across all four exciting stories about a passionate girl finding a place to belong. Imaginative, kind and hard-working, Lina is an unforgettable Australian Girl.

It's 1956 and Lina is working hard on the school newspaper but mean Sarah Buttersworth isn't making it easy. When Lina's best friend, Mary, gets distracted by her new television, things begin to fall apart. Meanwhile, at home, Lina starts to uncover some dark family secrets. Living in two such different worlds isn't easy and, when tragedy strikes, she makes a decision that causes her many lives to collide.

Vithy is in war-torn Cambodia searching for his only remaining family member, his older brother.

In eighteenth century London, two children, Elizabeth and Tom, are so hungry, they steal a loaf of bread from the bakery. They are caught and transported to Australia aboard a convict ship. Their time on board is harrowing and the voyage is certainly not smooth sailing. By the time they arrive in New South Wales, Tom is ill with fever and his fate unknown.

It is 1940 and WWII is being fought in faraway Europe. Lizard lives in Singapore's Chinatown, surviving on odd jobs and petty theft. When Boss Man Beng asks him to steal a teak box from a suite in the glamorous Raffles Hotel, he has no idea how dangerous it is. A sinister man appears and Lizard's best friend, Lili, shows up with unexpected fighting skills and her eye on the box. Lizard then becomes entangled in an exciting adventure in a world of coded secrets, Japanese invasion plans and undercover spies.

In 1940, bombs are falling in London. Ten year old Margaret Rose survives a deadly raid but her family and home are destroyed. In faraway Townsville in Queensland, Margaret's aunt is ready to take her in but her cousin, Lizzie, is not so sure and certainly doesn't want to share her room. But, first, Margaret Rose must undertake a long and dangerous voyage to a strange country, also at war. She knows it's not going to be easy, and Lizzie's not about to make it any easier.

The story of a young girl in Victorian England who's mother, after her father's death, has remarried a gentleman disliked by Lizzie. She is sent to London to stay with her aunt and uncle during the lead-up to the birth of a sibling.

Sophie falls asleep wearing a locket which belonged to her great-great-great-grandmother and is magically transported to 1858 to learn the truth about Charlotte Mackenzie, how she came to be in Australia and what happened to the family's priceless sapphire.

Based on a true story, this is a dual narrative about the harsh realities of life in Sudan. Nya's story relates to her daily struggle for water and survival. Salva's journey spans fifteen years after rebels attack his village and he is forced to flee into the bush to avoid being recruited. He joins hundreds of displaced people heading for a refugee camp in Ethiopia, all the while searching for his family.

One April night, people living near Chernobyl see a great flash in the sky...Everyone is told to move out of the forbidden zone around the destroyed nuclear reactor, but two stubborn old ladies, Anna and Klara, refuse to leave. Nine years later, the forest wolves bring a ragged child to their - a child who has been living with wolves in the forbidden zone. Who is the lost child of Chernobyl and will Anna and Klara be able to find the child's family after all this time? Inspired by the real events of the global environmental disaster at Chernobyl in April 1986, this haunting and deeply relevant graphic novel is about the place of humans in the natural world, about healing, survival and the meaning of home.

Marli is staying with her dad in Melbourne, and missing her friends. Then she discovers a mystery- an abandoned mansion, Riversleigh, is to be returned to her family after many years. Marli sneaks into the locked garden to explore, and meets Luca, a boy who has his own connection to Riversleigh. In 1922, Violet is fifteen and lives at Riversleigh. Her life is filled with boating parties, picnics and extravagant balls. An army of servants looks after her family- including the young Russian chauffeur, Nikolai. Over one summer Violet must decide what is important to her.

As the dark clouds of another war loom, Jack, Scarlet and Mr Doyle travel from grimy streets of London to neon-bright metropolis of Tokyo. They're on a mission for the British government: to locate the Kusanagi sword, an ancient relic believed to have magical powers. If they can find the sword, the Emperor of Japan promises to keep the peace between his nation and the allies. But in Tokyo, they soon discover that the Nazis are after the sword, too. And they will stop at nothing for world domination - putting the team's lives in terrible danger.

Twelve year old Tugs Button lives in a small town in USA in 1929. Her eccentric family hasn't known much luck over the years and Tugs vows to turn that around, When she befriends popular Aggie Millhouse, wins a new camera and stumbles into a mystery only she can solve, things begin to change. It just may be that being a Button is precisely what one funny, spirited, and observant young heroine decides to make of it.

Jonah is so busy caring for his mother that he has no time to make friends. When life seems most bleak, the discovery of a lucky button connects him to Nathaniel, a foundling boy from the eighteenth century. Nathaniel's story and his button just might be the lucky token Jonah needs.

It's 1983 and Marly needs a job. She wants to buy Donkey Kong cards to swap with the other kids at school but her parents think the cards are a waste of money. Then Marly's friend, Yousra, gives her an idea and she decides to start her own business. But, working on your own isn't easy and, when Marly catches a bus that goes in the wrong direction, it's just the start of her problems.

It's 1918 and the Great War rages on the other side of the world. Alice lives with her big family by the Swan River in Perth and her deepest wish is to become a ballerina. When she auditions for a famous dance teacher from London, it seems as if her dreams might come true. But, then there's a terrible accident, and Alice must ask herself whether there are more important things than dancing.

It's 1930 and Daisy lives on a farm, where she loves riding her horse, Jimmy, through the paddocks. Times are tough and, when her father loses his job, Daisy and her little sister, Flora, are sent to Melbourne to live with their aunt and uncle. Daisy must leave behind everything and everyone she loves for a city she's never seen. Even her wildest daydreams can't prepare her for the new life that awaits her. Meet Daisy and join her adventure in the first of four exciting stories about a hopeful girl in troubled times.

In 1808, orphaned, London street urchin, Grace, steals three apples to feed a poor, abused workhorse. When her theft is discovered, Grace is sentenced and transported by ship to Australia. She befriends Hannah and the two girls begin new lives, sailing towards a new land.

It's 1841 and Letty's sister, Lavinia, is sailing to Australia. In the confusion of departure, Letty gets caught on deck and is suddenly sailing as well. The voyage is long and miserable, and Letty must use her wits to keep Lavinia alive when she succumbs to fever.

It is 1956 in Melbourne and Lina dreams of being a writer. Her Italian parents have other ideas. Lina has a scholarship to an expensive girls' school and in order to fit in, tries to hide her home life even from her best friend.

It's 1983 and Marly is just trying to fit in at Sunshine Primary School. But, being a refugee from Vietnam doesn't make things easy. When Marly's cousins come to stay and end up at the same school, her friends make fun of them. Marly needs to find a way to stay loyal to her cousins and keep her school friends as well.

It's 1849 and Nellie O'Neill is arriving in South Australia on a ship bringing orphan girls from Irish workhouses. Nellie and her best friend, Mary, have left the famine in Ireland far behind and are full of hopes and dreams about getting a new job, and a new future. Nellie longs to learn to read, to be part of a family once more, and to never be hungry again.

It's1941 and the war is changing Pearlie's life every day. Darwin is full of soldiers, there's a spy on the loose and people are turning against Pearlie's best friend, Naoko, just because she's Japanese. When everything falls apart, Pearlie must try to be brave enough to stand up for what's right and not let her old fears get the better of her. Meet Pearlie and join her adventure in the first of four exciting stories about a courageous girl in a world at war.

It's 1864 and Poppy, an eleven year old girl, is raised in Bird Creek Mission near Echuca by the rather stern Mother Hangtree. When Poppy's brother escapes to strike it rich in the gold fields, Poppy disguises herself as a boy and sets out to find him. Along the way, she befriends and is aided by a series of characters, including an Irish bullocky, a feral dog and the feared bushranger, Harry Power.

In 1900s Melbourne, Rose lives a life of privilege, but the social conventions are predictable. Her life seems destined to be conservative and dull until her adventurous Aunt Alice arrives. Rose realises there are opportunities out in the big world.

It's 1930 and Ruby Quinlan lives in a big house in Adelaide with her parents and her fox terrier, Baxter. As she gets ready for her twelfth birthday party, Ruby has never been happier. But, the world she knows is collapsing and people everywhere are losing their jobs and their homes. Soon Ruby's comfortable life will fall apart in ways she could never have imagined. Meet Ruby and join her adventure in the first of four stories about a happy-go-lucky girl in a time of great change.

It is 1903, the time of the White Australia Policy, and Edward Chek Chee is the son of a mixed marriage. His father is Chinese, his mother Australian and Edward tries to fit in to both cultures. He has to cope with racism at school and bigotry from his cousin at home, while worrying about having to go back to China to understand his ancestral roots.

This is the story of a bushranger in Western Australia who has four comical animal friends.

Eliza is shocked when she is sent to the Manchester cotton mills in 1842. The mill is noisy and suffocating, the work is backbreaking and dangerous and the workers are wrecked by poverty, sickness and unrest. Eliza realises she must fight to escape the fate of a mill girl and the miseries of the factory.

Twelve-year-old Ming Qong is convinced that girls must have changed the world, even if they are rarely mentioned in history books. So when Ming gets the chance to go back in time, she imagines herself changing destinies from a glittering palace or an explorer's ship. Instead, she ends up in Australia in 1898, living a tough life as Flo Watson on a drought-stricken farm. Luckily, Ming is rescued by Flo's Aunt McTavish. Wealthy Aunt McTavish belongs to Louisa Lawson's Suffragist Society, who are desperately and courageously fighting for women's rights. And Ming is determined to get involved, to make a difference.

Ming Qong is convinced that girls have changed the world throughout history. So when Ming is thrust back in time to Belgium during WW1, she faces a tough choice: will she send coded messages and risk her own life in this war on which the future depends? As Ming learns, change is never easy, so how can one girl change the world?

In 1867 London, twelve year old Annabel Grey is primed for a life as a proper young lady. But, when she is placed in the care of two ageing great aunts who run a magic shop, Annabel is thrust into a world of potions, broomsticks, wands and wizards. Evil Mr Angel and his terrifying dark magic extracting machine want to put an end to good magic for ever. The wizards have dreamt of Annabel, the most magical girl, to save London. But, Annabel doesn't even believe in magic or understand the strange powers inside her.

Mostly true account of the tragic but inspiring life of Matthew Flinders and his cat, Trim. They relate their adventures, as they map and explore Australia, and their eventful return to England. Graphic novel.

It is 1861 and a major horse race, the Melbourne Cup, is about to be run for the first time. Thirteen year old Robby Jenkins is working as a stable hand and is convinced that his favourite horse, Archer, can win. This is Robby's diary about his love of horses, life at the stables and his dreams to become a top jockey.

Anthony and his family move to Woomera for his father's job in the army. His mother cares for Anthony as he recovers from polio. At school, one of Anthony's friends has photos of the rockets at the Woomera munitions base. When a small business arises for the boys, the townspeople become suspicious of Anthony and the police become involved.

It's 1932 and Sydney has hit hard times during the Great Depression. But, the construction of a bridge that will reach across the harbour is setting spirits soaring. Alice and Billy, whose fathers are working on the bridge, tell the story, through their diaries, of building the spectacular Harbour Bridge, which will unify a separated city from the north shore to the working class suburbs of the south.

Mary Beckwith has been sent to the penal colony at Port Jackson, transported with her mother, having stolen some fabric. She describes the hardships endured as well as the growth of the settlement and meeting the indigenous inhabitants. Her story is unlike most others as she joins Nicolas Baudin, the French scientific explorer, as he explores New Holland's coastline in direct competition with Matthew Flinders.

It is 1879 and life in the Biloela Industrial School is tough for eleven year old Olivia Markham. Her windswept days are filled with sewing, washing and avoiding the girls from the Reformatory School. Sydney is rapidly growing and modernising but Olivia can only imagine what life is like beyond the shores of Cockatoo Island. She dreams of freedom, friendship and, above all, family.

Jamie and Ellen Ross are alone in the world after the death of their father. Determined to make their fortune, they head to Beechworth, straight into the midst of the search for Ned Kelly, the most notorious bushranger of all time. There are two views of Ned Kelly, a hero wronged by the police or a cold-blooded murderer.

Marie's dad has been away for two years, fighting on the Somme battlefields in northern France. There hasn't been any word from him for months, no letters or postcards. Marie and her mother decide to travel to France, to try and find out what has happened to him. Marie experiences first-hand what war is like, as she tries to piece together the clues behind her dad's disappearance.

Like many Australian boys in the 1930s, Victor McDonald is cricket mad. Life is hard during the Great Depression, Victor's father has lost his job and the family is moving to Sydney. Victor keeps a diary that includes his meeting with Don Bradman.

Life on the run with Captain Thunderbolt, famous Australian bushranger. Based on true story of young Ben Cross and the historical figures that he meets. Although his life is exciting, Ben reflects on the ethics of the choices he has made.

Strong family and community ties are tested in this fictionalised account of the days prior to the bombing of Darwin.

It's 1969, many social changes are underway and man is headed for the moon. Twelve year old Davey lives to surf with his older brother, Tom, and listen to the latest hits. His cherished goal is to win the inaugural Under-14 Surf Championship with his best friends, Johnno and Pete. But, when Tom is drafted into the army and sent to Vietnam, everything changes and the far-away war creates waves very close to home.

Recollections of life before and during World War 2, and the horrific aftermath of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Provides a potent warning of the dangers of nuclear warfare.

William was only 16 years old when he enlisted for the First World War. Like many other under-age boys at the time, he was accepted into the Australian Imperial Force and sent to the battlefields of France. His letters home from the front reveal how, for the boy soldiers, the 'great adventure' became a tragedy.

Using maps, the author traces the history of one special Australian neighbourhood back two hundred years.

Flossie is just nine years old when, in 1939, Britain declares war on Germany and her father leaves the family home to join the army. Flossie is left to bring up her baby brother and to face a whole host of new experiences on her own. Her diary becomes an outlet for relaying all the news from at home and abroad.

Naveed is sick of war. The foreign powers and the Taliban, the warlords and the drug barons have torn Afghanistan apart. He has had to grow up quickly to care for his widowed mother and young sister, making little money from odd jobs and selling at the markets. When Naveed adopts Nasera, a street dog with extraordinary abilities, he has a chance to help rebuild his country.

Every month, Mrs Bracker has an historical theme for Years 5 and 6 to study, and there's always a prize for the best project. This month, the class are bushrangers holding up local businesses for donations. The prize is a state-of-the-art billy cart so Robbie and the McGoogly will do anything to win, even trying out some ancient technology to locate a real souvenir of the bushranger period.

It's 1849 and Nellie and her best friend, Mary, are starting new lives as kitchen maids in a grand Adelaide house. But Nellie's desire to live out her dreams soon leads to a battle with the spiteful cook, Bessie Rudge. Nellie must try to keep her temper and avoid being thrown out to beg on the streets. And she doesn't know why Mary is acting so strangely.

It's 1850 and Nellie is returning to Adelaide after searching for the Thompson family at the Burra. She's keen to get back to her best friend, Mary, who is ill in hospital. But she's in for a terrible shock. Even Nellie begins to feel that all is lost and that she might never achieve her dreams. Will her spirit be crushed, or can she turn her fate around?

It's 1850 and Nellie's best friend, Mary, is gravely ill. To provide Mary with the care she needs, Nellie must break a promise and go on a quest to find the Thompson family. Nellie's not sure if they will be able to help. Then Nellie's problems compound when her own life is in danger.

John, a convict child, is transported to the penal colony of NSW. Starving and alone, he is taken in by Australia's first schoolteacher, Isabella Rosson. In her simple classroom, John learns to read and write. He never forgets Isabella's lessons, the power of words and the hope for a brighter future.

Jem's dad drove the Cobb and Co mail coaches between Braidwood and Goulburn, it was dark and dangerous work. They only drove at night, but sometimes Paw let Jem take the reins. This was a difficult job with 5 horses up front and passengers in the carriage. Tonight, was going to be an even more interesting drive - although they didn't know that. Jem was sitting on top of the carriage with his Paw, the mail had been packed, a mystery passenger was on board, an extremely heavy trunk too as well as all sorts of obstacles along the way. What were the secrets the passengers on this particular coach ride hiding?

It's 1854 and the Ballarat goldfields are a place of dreams and rebellion as Sam, a homeless teenager, is called back to the past. As the summer days get hotter and the miners protests are ignored, Sam experiences at first-hand the power of a united stand which will change her life forever.

Taken from his home in the middle of the night, Jack is placed in a home for 'Orphans and Unwanted Children.' He loves telling jokes but not many people laugh in the orphanage. There are no names, only numbers on shoes, and Jack has become Number 49. The spirited, ever-optimistic Jack struggles in the loveless, cruel environment and begins to wonder if he will ever return to the family he misses so much.

Combines history, myth and fantasy. From beyond recorded time, Jackie French takes us on another historical journey. A chance for one girl who tells the truth to change history, and for her brother, an acrobat who accompanies a daring horse dancer across Greece, to attempt to rescue her.

Anastasia and Edward Upston knew it was strange when the orange light bathed the snow covered fields and dipped beyond the horizon. They knew it was strange that something so beautiful could signal the arrival of something so evil. They knew for sure that when mortals are caught between two bickering gods nothing good could come of it. Surviving the Viking Age may be the hardest thing the twelve year old twins ever have to do, if they can.

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.

Miriam's mother is starting to buy extra food to put away. Both her parents insist on calling her by her non-Jewish nickname and Miriam is struggling to understand what is going on. Through talking with friends who have overheard their parents' conversations and listening to the radio, Miriam learns about the coming to power of Adolph Hitler.

Alice's mother is sick and everyone fears she might have the dreaded Spanish Influenza. When the family celebrates Papa Sir's life and plants a tree at King's Park, Alice's brother Teddy makes a surprise announcement. But, an even bigger shock awaits Alice when someone from the past returns with the power to change her future and make her dreams come true.

Thirteen year old Sario lives with his family on a remote Torres Strait island. it's 1898 and the pearl-shell trade is at its height. When his father is coerced to join a white trader on his pearling lugger, Sario must go to work as a swimming diver to support the family. He's excited by the idea of walking on the sea floor but the competition is fierce and the only captain who will take him on runs the worst outfit in the fleet. And, there's the the constant danger of shark attacks and the storm of the century is approaching.

It's1942 and Pearlie is alone in Darwin. Not only has she been separated from her family but now Beake, the spy, is back and he's on the loose. He's out to get Pearlie but she has a daring plan. And when bombs fall on Darwin, Pearlie must fight to survive.

It's 1942 and Darwin is under attack. While bombs are falling, Pearlie is doing all she can to save her beloved pets and help the wounded soldiers. But, it's too dangerous to stay and, when Pearlie finally has to say goodbye, only the thought of being reunited with her best friend, Naoko, can cheer her up. But, Naoko has a problem of her own, a ghostly mystery that will truly test Pearlie's newfound courage.

It's 1941 and school is almost over, not just for summer but forever. Darwin could be bombed any day and everyone that Pearlie knows is leaving for a safer place. Animals and pets of all kinds are being left behind and Pearlie wants to rescue all of them. And she is fearful of what will happen when it's her turn to leave the home she loves. Follow Pearlie on her adventure in the second of four exciting stories about a courageous girl in a world at war.

Peter is just an ordinary boy, who loves playing football with his friends and eating cake. But, when war comes to his city, Budapest, Peter and his family have to go into hiding.

The story of Phar Lap is famous in Australia's history. His story is told in the form of a ballad accompanied by vivid illustrations that evoke the period.

Can one heroic homing pigeon make it through enemy territory to save two hundred American soldiers trapped behind enemy lines.

The native Americans of Virginia have destroyed another tribe in response to a prophecy they had that strangers would come to Chesapeake Bay and destroy them. Unfortunately, a group of English settlers land on this spot in 1607 after the massacre. Pocahontas is dismayed at her tribe's mistake but her efforts to right the situation only make it worse. The true story of her meeting with John Smith.

The new occupants in the apartment upstairs turn out to be two women friends who are heavily involved in the suffragette movement. Polly is inspired by their beliefs and finds herself questioning the views of those around her.

Claudia lives in Pompeii and begins her diary in August AD 78. She has been to the forum and felt the earth shake. It is a day of portents and omens, and on this same day, she first sees the mysterious slave boy, Aengus. Their paths continue to cross as they live in the shadow of the great volcano, Vesuvius.

It's 1864 and Poppy is on the road again, heading to the town of Wahgunyah. On the way, she meets a stranger, who seems to know something about her past and her special letter with the red tiger seal. But, the more time Poppy spends with this boy, the more difficult he becomes and Poppy wonders if she can really trust him.

It's 1864 and Poppy, disguised as a boy, has escaped from Bird Creek Mission to find her brother, Gus. Life on the road is tough. When Poppy is given shelter at Summerhill Homestead, she meets a new friend, Noni. Poppy must keep her identity a secret as she tries to find Gus.

It's 1864 and Poppy, disguised as a lost princess from India, has joined a travelling medicine show. They're about to enter the town of Beechworth, where her brother Gus told her he was heading months before. Poppy is so happy to think that she might find Gus at last. But when Poppy follows the clues, they lead her to the cemetery.

War destroyed the worlds of two young girls decades apart. Their love of amazing stallions will draw them together, and bring peace to them both.

Asha, the daughter of King Thutmose, does not want to live the constrained life of privileged, pampered Egyptian women. She loves to train her body and her mind, and resents the power and importance of men. One day, a prophecy foretells that a young woman will prove to be the best man in the Two Kingdoms and Asha is caught up in a world of plots, danger and intrigue.

Australian soldier Nelson Ferguson was wounded in battle by poison gas which damaged his eyes and lungs. These injuries were made worse because Nelson was an artist and a cornet player. After he died many years later, Nelson's grandson wanted to ensure Australians remembered what happened to thousands of young soldiers in World War 1.

In the spring of 1942 Sasha and his family are enjoying the beautiful flowers and sunshine while still missing his father who has gone to war and not come back. This peace does not last very long before Sasha is on his own and running for his life across the Russian countryside. Sasha soon finds himself in the company of Russian soldiers and faced with keeping himself and his new friends alive.

Ramose has been kidnapped by tomb robbers. He will need all the luck of the gods if he is to return as Pharaoh.

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.

Someone tries to kill Prince Ramose. If they think he is dead, he will be safe. He lives in disguise, but will this pampered, selfish prince survive.

Ramose is on the run. He has been living in disguise, travelling back to the royal palace where he hopes to regain his place as heir to the throne of Egypt. Ramose may be close to becoming Pharoah but his journey could end with the sting of a scorpion.

Everyone has turned against Ramose and someone is trying to kill him. He must escape from the rebels. He needs to find someone willing to help him.

Published in 2018 to mark the anniversary of Women's right to vote in United Kingdom, this incredibly crafted book documents the story of women's right to vote around the world. From 1893 New Zealand to 2015 Saudi Arabia women and their voices have risen up and united to demand the right to "a voice and a choice".

For one young girl, a resident of a labour camp, a run-down, old piano brings some humanity into her life and to a system that has none. Each night, she bravely steals away to play on the battered instrument and, sheet by sheet, she gradually assembles, then copies, the music. One night, she is caught at the piano. A story about international concert pianist, Zhu Xiao-Mei, and the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

Young soldier Jim McLeod waits in the trenches of World War I for the order to attack the enemy. With him are his friends, and Nipper, the messenger dog. When they charge across no-man's land, Jim is shot and finds himself face to face with an enemy soldier.

A "Give Yourself Goosebumps" story. This special interactive adventure is a sequel to Goosebumps #27: A Night in Terror Tower--extended into a create-your-own, fright-filled time trek to the Middle Ages.

Richard 3 was an unpopular king, and this tale explores how he gained, then lost, power during his reign. This series gives young readers the chance to discover Shakespeare for themselves. Also included are useful notes on the themes within the stories and a background to the Globe Theatre.

It is 1917 and Daffy Rowntree's brother has gone missing in action somewhere in Europe in the First World War, known as the Great War of 1914-1918. Daffy is determined to do something to help in the war effort and finds herself in the mud and horror of the battlefields of France amongst the dead and wounded. She drives an ambulance, transports the wounded from the trenches and searches for her lost brother.

Bran is a prince of the Carvetii tribe in ancient England. He has been captured by the Romans and kept hostage with a legion of Roman soldiers building a military road across his country. Bran is there to ensure their safety and they are keeping his family hostage at their base camp to make sure he complies. But, no-one is safe in newly-conquered Britain.

In Rome in AD 94, the evil Emperor Domitian is busy killing those he suspects of being disloyal to him. When soldiers arrive to seize Juba's family home, his parents help him and his siblings to escape. They travel to their uncle's house in distant Britannia, on the edge of the known world, The children have never been outside on their own or done anything for themselves, having depended on slaves all their lives. Juba's daunting quest is to avoid capture and death, to find a safe haven and save the children.

Britannia AD 94. On the run from the Emperor Domitian, fifteen year old Fronto has joined the Roman army in order to find security and structure. He wants to be a good soldier but, when his younger sister, Ursula, is captured by a Druid called Snakebeard, Fronto must decide whether or not to leave the army to rescue her. Desertion is punishable by death.

A picture book that tells of Rose, a little girl living in a small German town during the war, who sees trucks going to a place outside of town and wants to find out more.

It's 1901 and even the death of Queen Victoria can't stop the growing excitement as Melbourne gets ready to celebrate Federation, on Rose's birthday. Meanwhile, at school, Rose loves being involved in the cricket team. She's so focused on the game coming up that she almost doesn't notice that her best friend, Abigail, is acting strangely.

Workhouse girl Rose Muddle is surprised to inherit a powerful amber pendant. But more shocking is the news that a second pendant, held by the treacherous Brotherhood of the Black Sun, could unleash darkness on the world. Along with her friend Rui, and Bahula the monkey, Rose is flung into a daring adventure to stop the forces of evil.

When Rose Muddle and Rui Singh travel to India to return a precious ruby, they learn they're being followed by an ominous and mysterious stranger. An evil individual who wants to steal the gem. As a dark curse falls across the land, Rose and Rui find themselves in mortal danger and must uncover a sinister plot before it is too late. Can they uncover the ruby' secrets before their shadowy enemies wreak their deadly chaos?

It's 1900 and Rose feels that Aunt Alice is the only one who understands her. But, now, it looks as if Aunt Alice is going to live in Adelaide, leaving Rose with a dreadful, new governess, Miss Higginbottom. Rose must stop Aunt Alice from leaving Melbourne so that she doesn't lose her chance to go to school.

It's 1900 and Rose's world is changing. At last, she can go to a proper school, where she makes a best friend, learns more than just embroidery and even gets to play in a proper cricket match. But, at home, her mother is dangerously ill, her father is worried about Federation and Aunt Alice is getting in more trouble than ever.

It's 1931 and Ruby and her family have lost everything in the Great Depression. Leaving behind her dad, her school friends and everything she knows, Ruby moves to Kettle Farm to stay with her cousins. Life in the country is new and strange, and Ruby has never felt like such an outsider. Thankfully, she has her much-loved dog, Baxter, for company. But, when he gets up to mischief, everything goes horribly wrong.

It's 1931 and Kettle Farm is starting to feel like home for Ruby. But, she is still desperately worried about her dad. He hasn't written for weeks and nobody knows where he is. Ruby wonders if Dad will ever come back to them. When nobody will give Ruby any answers, she sets out to find him herself.

Tilly falls asleep wearing a ruby talisman, wishing she could escape to a more adventurous life. In 1789, Amelie-Mathilde is living at the opulent palace of Versailles but her guardians want her to marry the horrible old Chevalier. Amelie-Mathilde falls asleep holding her own ruby talisman, wishing for rescue.

It's 1931.and Ruby is settling into life at her new school in the country. When a desperately poor family moves to the area, no-one wants to be friends with them. Ruby will have to choose sides and she has already made one enemy at school, Doris Spinks. Ruby wants to do what she believes is right. And she wonders what Doris knows about Ruby's beloved dad who is missing.

By the 1790s orphaned Barney Bean finally has his own farm in the early NSW colony. All his dreams are coming true. But now we are to learn of Barney's biggest secret yet: how he helped Australia's first bushranger escape. Was Black Caesar a wronged man, an ex-slave who vowed to be free? Or was he a laughing villain, a trickster who planned to terrorise the colony? And in helping him, did Barney do right or wrong? You decide.

Frog is an orphan living on the streets of Parramatta in 1804. After a chance encounter with an Irish rebel, Frog joins the battle to overthrow the corrupt New South Wales Army Corp. Will the rebels be victorious at Castle Hill, and what secret is the youngest rebel hiding?

It's November, 1922. In a valley in Egypt the tomb of a long dead pharaoh is about to be discovered. The world watches and waits for news with baited breath. Thirteen-year-old Lilian Kaye, who lives in a flat above a shop in London, is eagerly following the story. One morning the news takes a sinister turn: a man- a famous Egyptologist- disappears. All that remains of him are his feet. Then Lil's grandfather is taken suddenly ill, and when a mysterious package turns up for him from the Egyptologist, Lil starts to believe there is truth to the rumours of a pharaoh's curse.

This story is based on two real life events. Never have Aman and his mother needed a friend more than when a Springer Spaniel appears, thin and war-ravaged, in the mouth of their Afghan cave. Nursed back to health by Aman, the dog becomes a constant companion, a shadow. But, as life in war-torn Afghanistan becomes more dangerous, Aman, his mother and Shadow embark upon the treacherous journey from Afghanistan to a relative's home in Manchester, England, where they hope to be safe.

Shahana is almost fourteen and has not known a life of peace. She lives near the Line of Control, the border, patrolled by Pakistani and Indian soldiers, that divides Kashmir.Her parents are dead and Shahana must leave school to look after her younger brother and grandfather. 'Freedom fighters' from both sides roam, looking for food, children to recruit and worse. And, other dangers lurk from within her own community.

Any two 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.

Eleven year old Lexie Lewis, who lives with her strict grandparents, is desperate to rejoin her mother, a carefree singer in San Francisco. Lexie seizes the chance by writing the best letter to accompany her school's doll to San Francisco, as part of the 1926 friendship program in the Hinamatsuri festival. In her efforts, Lexie must overcome many obstacles and make the most difficult decision of her life.

Sian is the unlucky, thirteenth child in a Welsh coalminer's family. Life is hard. Her mother died after giving birth to her and her father is grief-stricken. Sian's sister hatches a plan for a better life. It will involve a long ocean voyage but Sian is looking forward to a country where the sun shines and she can go to school, instead of picking coal scraps for pennies. The only problem is, no one must know about their journey.

A blind soldier, who has deserted from the war, wants to return to England to see his brother before he dies. Two young girls befriend him. The soldier shares four stories about donkeys throughout history that have been brave, kind and trustworthy.

Nettie Sweeney is the youngest in her family and wishes they had a Mum. When her new Mum finally arrives, it seems like the Sweeney family have it made. But tragedy strikes and nothing will ever be the same again: Nettie attempts to help fix things but will her actions lead to disaster?

This is one of the many stories about Simpson and his donkey which has been especially written and illustrated for younger readers.

Abby Smart is planning to have the most awesome year ever. She's the leader of the Smart Girls Club and after winning the talent quest, her dream to be a musical singer looks like it might come true. And then Stella turns up, fluttering her mascara eyelashes. She's way too cool for little old Kangaroo Valley. Worst of all, she's making Abby's friends like ridiculous things such as makeup and new music! Abby's plans to have a great year are being turned into dog food. Will Abby follow her friends, or follow her dreams? Because she can't have both. After all, Smart Girls don't wear mascara!

Ivy and her mother live in Australia, far away from where the Great War is raging. Ivy writes to her father, who is fighting overseas, all about life at home. About the socks and sandbags she and her friends make and the leeches they catch to sell to the hospital. The war keeps dragging on and she keeps on writing, hoping her dad returns safe.

Sophie has an important but terrifying role to play in the Second World War. As a citizen of France during German occupation, her youth and frequent bike rides to visit other towns enable her to pass messages under the enemy's nose. She becomes deeply involved in the French resistance and a daring plan to save a young Scottish soldier.

Maggie holds tight to her mother as they await the long anticipated apology to the Stolen Generations by the Prime Minister. In the excitement of the crowd, Maggie loses touch of her mother's hand and is lost. She is reunited with her mother but the faces and memories of the Stolen Generations are all around them. Two stories entwine in this captivating retelling of the momentous day when then Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd acknowledged the sorrows of the past and said 'sorry' to Indigenous children who were taken from their homes.

Royal Blue is a royal racing pigeon from a long line of champions. Every morning he wakes and spends the day training, but there's a war growing and things are changing. One day the King himself comes to the loft and selects Blue for a special assignment. Blue needs to find the courage to leave his secure home to be a war pigeon and face dangers he never could have imagined, and will he survive to return to his family?

In 1932, ten year old Stella lives in the segregated South of the United States. Some stores she can go into, others she can't. Some folks are right pleasant, others less so. To Stella, it sort of evens out, and the Ku Klux Klan hasn't bothered them for years. But, one late night, Stella and her little brother see something they're never supposed to see, something that is the first flicker of change to come. As Stella's community and her world are upended, she decides to fight fire with fire. She learns that ashes don't necessarily signify an end.

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.

There's never a good time to be orphaned - or abandoned ... especially when you are twelve years old, and it's the Great Depression. In 1928, Shakespearean actors, the McAllisters, are forced to leave their daughter Adversity at the Emu Swamp Children's Home. They fully intend to return, but things don't go according to plan. Then, to make matters worse, Scrimshaw, a villainous theatrical agent, hears the talented Addie sing. He plots to use her in his next money-making venture, but when he turns up at Emu Swamp to collect his prize, Scrimshaw finds she's run away. Together with Macbeth, her Shakespeare-quoting cockatiel, Addie is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Digger, a mischievous pup, ran away from home seeking adventure. He became the soldiers' mascot and, during World War I, Digger's adventures were not quite what he expected. He was wounded and befriended by Sergeant James Martin. When he returned home, Digger hated loud noise and certain smells, which reminded him of war. For his bravery and long service, Digger was presented with a silver engraved collar. Based on a true story.

Taj and his camel are on the adventure of a lifetime. They join explorer Ernest Giles to cross the Australian desert, where they encounter wild dogs, poisonous snakes, Aborigines and a constant shortage of water. Taj also learns the hard reality of travelling with animals.

Just as the children of the Kim family are treated to traditional folk tales from their beloved grandmother, the reader is invited into the life of this noble family from an older time. As big and small events happen in the life of the Kim family, grandmother has a different story to share from thousand of years of Korean history and tradition to entertain and to explain everything from why cats and dogs are not friends and to how the Korean people came to be.

The history of the Trojan war, a well-told story of the folly of gods and men. The Greeks attack Troy to force the Trojan prince, Paris, to return their queen, Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world.

Tarin's quest to save Mammoth Clan seems increasingly out of reach. Badly injured while fleeing the savage Boar Clan, Tarin and the twins face certain death as the harsh Winter descends. But an unexpected refuge not only saves their lives but offers new friends, and Tarin finally realises his greatest wish. When Spring comes, will Tarin have the strength to leave and continue his dangerous journey?

Tarin longs to be a hunter, but his twisted leg means he is feared and bullied. After a disastrous mishap, Tarin is forced to leave his family and travel alone across wild, unknown land to save the Mammoth Clan. Battling the hostile and savage Boar Clan, a deadly illness, and treacherous terrain with twins Kaija and Luuka and their wolf cubs, Tarin realises that if they are to survive he must conquer his greatest fear- his inner self- and embrace the magic that is hiding within him.

During the war, Teresa and her family survived the bombing of their home and went hungry during the long siege of their island. But, life in peace time is still hard. Her parents want a better life and apply to migrate to Australia. But, after the long voyage to Sydney, there are more testing times ahead for Teresa as she tries to learn Australian ways, avoid the bullies and do well at school. She is not about to let anything stop her from making her family and her nanna, back in Malta, proud of her.

Jack and Gilbert made a pact when they were younger - to work together in the mines, just like their fathers and other immigrants. Jack is turning twelve, and the thought of working underground fills him with panic. When Gilbert leaves school to earn a wage, Jack wants to keep his word - but that means facing his fear. All the while his heart is telling him to follow another path. That boy, Jack must find the courage to choose.

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.

Theophilus Grey heads a team of linkboys who guide Londoners by torch light, through dank eighteenth century alleys. They gather useful information for the master who runs a spy network. When thieves start dropping without a scratch and a wave of crime sweeps the area, Philo wonders if the events are connected. He will need to use all his cunning to uncover the truth behind the demon thief, in time to save his friends.

In eighteenth-century London, twelve year old Philo Grey is a linkboy. He collects information to sell. One of his best customers pays good money for intelligence about the Jacobites, who are plotting to overthrow King George. But, spying on the Jacobites is a dangerous business, especially when Philo becomes the target of a rival gang of linkboys. And, Philo's old master has never forgiven him for leaving and will stop at nothing for revenge. Luckily, Philo has friends as well as enemies. He must rely on them as well as his instincts to escape harm.

Any two books from this series may be read as Challenge books and up to five more can be read as personal choice books. Go to the online booklists for the PRC ID of the individual books in this series.

Tilda has been left by her papa in an orphanage in Adelaide. He promises he will come back to get her after he serves his country in the Boer War. A promise is a promise and keeps the hope alive in Tilda while she waits for his return. But as she waits, she notices that something isn't quite right at the orphanage. Sister Agatha is determined to get Tilda to admit that she is an orphan, and that her papa isn't coming back for her. Tilda holds on to her hope and with her best friend, Annie, tries to get to the bottom of this mystery before it's too late.

A comprehensive journey through the inventions, discovered and technology which have shaped the world. When, where and why science and technology happens on a large scale.

Margaret Anne is plucked from the orphanage to be the companion of a woman who wishes to travel without her husband. She can't believe her luck when wealthy Mrs Carstairs takes her aboard the great ship, Titanic, bound for America, where she can be reunited with her brother. On the journey, she falls in love with a brave cabin boy. But, one freezing night in April 1912, she finds herself caught up in an unimaginable nightmare.

In the 1580s, Queen Elizabeth's enemies plot against her, planning to kill her and place Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne. Kitty Lumdsden's father, Sir Nicholas, is abroad, working on secret projects for the Queen and her brother is mixing with suspicious characters. As Mary's supporters come closer and become more powerful by the minute, Kitty fears that they'll all be thrown into the Tower.

When African refugees, Emmanuel and Prince, are sent to live with their uncle, he finds them too much to handle and throws the brothers out. Twelve year old Emmanuel knows that he must look after his younger brother. These were his father's last words to him. Without food or money, the boys turn to petty crime to keep themselves alive. And, that's when things start to spin out of control.

Mary Devereux is the daughter of the head tailor in Saltleigh Hall in Tudor England, a time when many wealthy women live trivial and useless lives. One night, she overhears the steward plotting to murder the Queen.

Obulejo's name means 'trouble tomorrow' in the Ma'di language, and there is plenty of trouble for sixteen-year-old Obulejo when his town is attacked by Rebel troops. Separated from family and close friends, Obulejo flees into the hills and then makes a terrifying journey, full of danger from wild animals and pursuing soldiers. Once across the border in a refugee camp, he is safer but has no future - until he joins a pioneering peace education program and begins to find ways to create a more helpful life for himself and others.

In the 1800s, thirteen year old Verity Sparks is a lowly hat maker in class-ridden London. She lives a meagre existence until she realises that she has a unique talent for finding lost objects. Before she knows it, she has joined the Confidential Inquiry Agency and proves to be quite adept at solving mysteries. Her own past is murky, however, so she and her newfound friends set out to discover the truth.

It's 1851 and eleven year old Maggie is living at Springfield, a sheep station near Goulburn. She helps her mother with the laundry and daydreams about getting away and doing something exciting. When she gets the opportunity to help in the nursery at the big house, she also gets the chance to learn to read and write, until her curiosity gets her into trouble.

Twelve year old Flossie Birdwhistle is no ordinary girl. Chosen to be the Turnkey at London's Highgate Cemetery, Flossie has the special task of looking after the souls that reside there. When she discovers the ghost of a mysterious German soldier, far from his home and carrying a strange object, Flossie uncovers a terrible secret that threatens the worlds of both the living and the dead. With the help of the other cemetery Turnkeys, Flossie must unravel the mystery In order to save London.

Thousands of years ago in Stone-age Scotland twin brother and sister, thrall-born, have dreams beyond the Custom of the Beaver Clan. Bhoid is a skilled hunter and Sulaire is a healer, but when Bhoid injures the Headman's son whist protecting his sister, he is forced to flee, alone and defenseless. Separated for the first time in their lives, it will take all their skill and courage to survive apart. Will the twins ever see each other again?

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 Tye arrives at her grandparent's place in beautiful Tasmania, it's not the school holidays she expects when threat of major bushfires begin to threaten the local area. Then when she discovers Bailey, a young runaway boy who is hiding in the bush from his foster family, she is torn between keeping his secret or telling her family to make sure he is safe. As fires start to make their way towards them and evacuations are called, Tye is swept up in the chaos and finds herself in real danger. Will they survive?

An important and intriguing tale of an extraordinary friendship between two unlikely characters, Captain Arthur Phillip and the Aborigine, Bennelong, which remains largely unknown. The background of the first settlement in Australia heightens the polarity between the two worlds of the traditional Aboriginal culture and values, and European culture and values.

Maggie Flanagan is mad about AFL. But in a time when girls should sew and bake cakes and not do anything so unladylike as play footy, her suggestion to hold an all-girls charity game to raise money for the boys at war are met with laughs and ridicule. Will that stop the Flying Flanagan?

When Peggy rescues a stray dog from near-death, a beautiful friendship begins. Nothing but the looming war can part them. Peggy is evacuated to safety and Beau is left behind in London, where he becomes an unexpected war hero. Night after night, as bombs rain down and lives are destroyed, Beau searches the ruins, rescuing countless survivors. But then tragedy strikes and Beau sets off on an incredible journey to find his beloved Peggy.

Rose and her grandad are visiting the grave of his father, who died there during World War I. She chances upon the resting place of fifteen year old Valentine Joe. Later, Rose finds herself in a different place, one hundred years before, with Valentine Joe and his friends. Rose learns why Joe enlisted so young, of the camaraderie among the soldiers, and about the terrifying and horrific effects of war.

One valley's stories of gold through the ages, from the beginning, four billion years ago, to the valley's creation and the history of its deposits.

Another mystery clouds the very small castle of the O'Bryan family when glamorous actress, Delilah Devince vanishes in the middle of filming on Howlers Beach. With the monster co-star as lead suspect and more strange disappearances happening, it's up to Butter to solve the mystery. Can he crack the case before it's too late?

It's1880 and Verity is having fun on holidays, with Papa and her friends. But, a terrible crime has been committed and when Verity tries to investigate, her gift, the ability to find lost things, creates more mysteries than it solves. Verity must find out why a red glove was left at the crime scene and who is the ghostly woman following her. Terrible secrets are being revealed. Verity will need all her courage and skills to solve this.

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.

Melbourne in 1879 and Verity Sparks has found her father. But, she has lost her gift - the ability to find lost things. Papa Savinov, eager for Verity to become a proper lady, sends her to the exclusive boarding school, Hilltop House. But, Verity is more interested in solving the case of the missing Ecclethorpe heiress. As the investigation deepens, danger and intrigue grow closer.

After being injured in a raid that has gone terribly wrong, Tor Scaldbane loses his chance to be a legendary warrior. After this devastating blow, his faith is restored when he discovers the sagas of his ancestors, including the stories of glorious battles, ancient heroes and powerful gods. Now, he has his own stories to tell.

Twelve year old Vinnie has escaped from his foster mother and her tough rules and expectations. He has found a friend with whom he can share dreams and music. Then, war begins and Vinnie is evacuated from the London bombs. All he has left of his old life is his harmonica. On the train, Vinnie meets three other evacuee children and when they arrive in the small country town of Netterfold, their own war begins.

Violet Veil is a young girl desperate to join her father in the family business, Veil and Sons Undertakers, as an apprentice. But being a girl, she faces lots of challenges in achieving her goal. When a client unexpectedly goes missing, and then suddenly turns up alive, Violet is thrust into a mystery. Can she and her dog, Bones, solve the case and prove her worth to her Father?

In 1980, Rose Birk and her stepdaughter, Nellie, write letters and attend meetings to help improve the lives of women and children in Adelaide. This action soon changes their lives and they become part of a bigger movement which changes Australian history.

Stella Montgomery is in disgrace. The Aunts have sent her to Wakestone Hall, a grim boarding school where the disobedient are tamed and the wilful are made meek. But when a friend disappears, Stella is determined to find her - no matter the danger... Soon Stella is thrown deeper into the mysteries of Wakestone... and her own past. Will Stella save her friend in time? And will she discover - at long last - where she truly belongs?

They said the war would be over by Christmas, but it isn't. The German and English trenches face each other, with No Man's land inbetween. But on Christmas Eve the shooting stops and on Christmas day, guns are put down.

John is the son of a solider and his mother works at the munitions factory making weapons for the first World War. More than he wants a glorious victory for the British, he wants his family back together and all families back together. Even the German families. John finds that wanting peace during war time can be as dangerous as being at the front, yet without a vision for peace, how can it ever be found?

Nine year old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada's twisted, club foot to let her outside. So, when Ada's little brother, Jamie, is shipped out of London to avoid the war, she escapes to join him. A new adventure begins for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman forced to take them in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan. And, Susan begins to love them both. But, wartime and Ada's cruel mother threaten the growing bond.

Battle Boy 005 is about to meet one of the most famous women warriors in history - queen of the Iceni tribe, Boudicca. She led her people against the cruel rule of the Roman Empire.

War is not just the story of soliders and generals and battles, but it is also the story of children and parents, and families lost and found. As the second World War comes to an end, the Wolf family face their greatest test of survival when the reality of a German defeat comes to their village. Liesl is tasked with keeping her younger brother and sister close and alive while also trying to survive without losing all the things which make them human.

Meet three siblings in Park, Delaware in 1986, as the country waits expectantly for the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Cash, who loves basketball but has a newly broken wrist, is in danger of failing seventh grade for the second time. Fitch spends every afternoon playing Major Havoc at the arcade on Main and wrestles with an explosive temper that he doesn't understand. And Bird, his twelve-year-old twin, dreams of being NASA's first female shuttle commander, but feels like she's disappearing. The Thomas children exist in their own orbits, circling a tense and unpredictable household, with little in common except an enthusiastic science teacher named Ms. Salonga. As the launch of the Challenger approaches, Ms. Salonga gives her students a project-they are separated into spacecraft crews and must create and complete a mission. When the fated day finally arrives, it changes all of their lives and brings them together in unexpected ways.

Australia has a long history and many stories. This is the story of Leonard, a young orphan boy, who was on one of the ships in the First Fleet that came to Australia from England. He was both frightened and amazed by his new country. When Leonard met Milba, an Eora girl, she showed him the animals of his new land and the cave drawings of her people. Without words, they could still tell their stories.

In 1933, nine year old Anna was too busy with schoolwork and friends to take much notice of Adolf Hitler's rise to power in her native Germany, until she is forced to learn the skills needed to survive as a refugee.

It is Summer, 1942. Everyday life in Britain is filled with air raids, rationing, fear, friendship and pets. Three thrilling stories about three different children, who find adventure, courage, untrainable dogs and an impossibly tall American GI where they least expect it.

You may have heard of the famous mutiny on the ship, the Bounty, or the Rum Rebellion coup. They are two extraordinary events in Australia's history, yet the details in and around these events are largely unknown. Peel back the layers of this incredible and controversial period in Australia's early development.

It is medieval France and the illegitimate son of a peasant is chosen to be the heir of the Duke of Normandy. Powerful families plot to murder the boy and steal his title. Young William learns the hard way that there are few people he can trust and when he has nowhere left to hide, he makes a stand and fights for his life. This is the boy who became William the Conqueror of England.

It's January 1871 when Edith, the sheltered daughter of a wealthy widow, pays her first eventful visit to the workhouse for the poor. There, she meets Rosie, a rebellious, quick-tempered orphan who is always getting into trouble. Edith soon finds herself drawn into Rosie's wild schemes and both their lives are never the same again.

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 Stella Montgomery returned to the Hotel Majestic cold and wet but exhilarated by adventure, the Aunts were furious. Now they are sending Stella away to the old family home at Wormwood Mire, where she must live with two strange cousins and their governess. But within the overgrown grounds of the mouldering house, dark secrets slither and skulk, and soon Stella must be brave once more if she's to find out who - or what - she really is...This is the thrilling and magical sequel to multi-award-winning novel, Withering-by-Sea.

Thirteen year old Yong doesn't want to leave his home in China to travel to the Australian goldfields in Ballarat. But, as the firstborn son, he has no choice. On the long and treacherous journey, Yong strives to be an honourable son, while he and his father face many hardships and dangers. But, in his heart, Yong knows the shameful truth. His honour is a lie. Somehow, Yong must find the courage to face what lies ahead.

Zafir has a comfortable life in Syria with his doctor father and journalist mother. But, everything changes after the Day of Rage, when Zafir's father is arrested, his mother is injured and their house is bombed. Zafir's cousin takes him in but, that too, becomes dangerous as the city becomes more and more besieged. Zafir fears that his family may never be reunited to live in peace again.