Booklists

The war in France rages in the skies, and support for the war in Australia turns cold. Alex flies high above the trenches of the Western Front, while a world away his sister Maggie finds herself in the midst of political upheaval. Somehow, both must find the courage to fight on.

Zeelie wonders if they're in danger. When temperatures soar to 47 degrees one hot summer day, 12-year-old Zeelie hopes the nearby bushfires everyones talking about aren't heading towards her family's new home. What will they do if the wind changes direction? What about their belongings and their beloved pets? And why hasn't her mum and brother returned from Melbourne? Nothing can prepare Zeelie for what's to come.

Have you heard these most bizarre tales from around Australia? Did a UFO drag a family's car off the road in the middle of the outback? How did rocks rain from the sky in WA? And what became of the prime minister who went into the surf and was never seen again? Explore the strangest tales, most incredible encounters and creepiest urban legends in Australia's history. Read about the investigations and weigh up the facts, do you believe the official explanations for these weird and wonderful events?

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

Lara Laylor is 15 and is struggling to find her sense of self. She's always been seen as Ashley's best friend or Hannah's sister. When hher History teacher Mr Grant gives her the assignment of researching the mystery of Adelaide's Somerton Man, she is instantly transported into another world. Lara becomes a detective as she tries to find out who this mysterious man was and why he died, anonymously, on a beach. As Lara researches, she is able to ignore some of the toxic friendships and crushes happening around her. However, she needs to grow up eventually and solve her own mysteries too. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Harriet and Wilhelmina couldn't be more dissimilar. Harriet has the perfect life - she's dating the perfect girl, has been elected prefect, is the apple of her teachers' eye, and is an overachiever. Will, on the other hand, has gained the ire of her teachers and lands more detentions than she does accolades. But when both girls witness a teacher harass a fellow student, the two form an unlikely partnership to shed light on the many problems of the exclusive Rosemead Grammar. To protect their identities, they create Amelia Westlake, and as they work together they begin to question their distance from each other...Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The soldiers she saved called her the Angel of Waterloo. The husband she loved and lost called her Hen. The patients she treated in secret called her Auntie Love. She was Henrietta Bartlett, a surgeon's daughter, a survivor of the Napoleonic Wars. But now the battlefield is just a blood-soaked memory, and Hen dreams of peace, a home, and a society that allows women to practise medicine. On the other side of the world, the newly founded colony of New South Wales seems a paradise. But Europe's wars cast long shadows .. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Luca Mason knows exactly who he is and what he wants: In six months, he's going to be accepted into the Australian Ballet School, leave his fancy private high school, and live his life as a star of the stage - at least that's the plan until he falls down a flight of stairs and breaks his foot in a way he can never recover from. With his dancing dreams dead on their feet, Luca loses his performing arts scholarship and transfers to the local public school, leaving behind all his ballet friends and his whole future on stage. The only bright side is that he strikes up unlikely friendships with the nicest (and nerdiest) girl at his new school, Amina, and the gorgeous and popular school captain, Jordan Tanaka-Jones. As their unlikely bonds grow stronger, Luca starts to wonder: who is he without ballet? And is he setting himself up for another heartbreak? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

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

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

Set in the Western Australian goldfields in the 1930s, Neil describes the sometimes violent life on the diggings. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Bee Ballentine is starting her first year of high school at beachside Crescent Bay. Still reeling from the departure of her mother who left for an ashram in India, Bee talks to Buddha and begs for her first period not to arrive. She's not ready to become a woman yet, whatever that means. Although Bee has yet to find her group at school, her best friend forever is Leon Mckay, the hottest boy in Year 8. As long as Leon has her back Bee can survive the mean girls, her meddling step-mum Kath, her swimming nemesis, The Piranha.

Lottie collects dead creatures and lovingly cares for them, hoping to preserve them, to save them from disintegration. Her father understands - Lottie has a scientific mind, he thinks. Her aunt wants it to stop, and she goes to cruel lengths to make sure it does. And her mother? Lottie's mother died long ago. And Lottie is searching for a way to be close to her. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Evie, Lucy and Gemma are all in hospital for different reasons, and find themselves in a ward together. Despite a rocky start, they gradually become friends. When one of them witnesses a crime from the window, all three band together to solve the mystery and help build each others happiness while doing so. A coming of age novel for anyone in that space between childhood and adolescence.

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.

What happens when the truth gets lost? Where wild animals and people meet, tragedy can strike. But when a tiny baby is stolen by a dingo, people simply cannot accept such a thing. Prejudice and gossip grip the nation, and the tragedy transforms into a fight for the truth. This is a true Australian story of innocence, ignorance, and the perils of mob thinking.

Dale and Tomias, live in the outback. They have a deep love for the wild, ancient land that is their home and move easily between their Aboriginal and white cultures, until someone turns up to spoil their last year at the community school.

One hero lost in a raging tsunami. One sign pointing to a deadly battle. One day left until the end of...everything. With Sydney plunged into underwater chaos, the DARE winners are suspected of being responsible. After escaping from security officers, they must race to their final destination- Felix Scott's mega-ship Infinite Horizon- and decode one last deadly sign. If they don't get this right, then it's game over- not just for them, but for the whole world. The DARE winners will have to use their wits to stop The Signmaker. But after a mind-blowing secret is revealed in Antarctica, they're in for a heart-stopping final face-to-face battle with a unimaginable enemy. Who will live and who will die?

Since Ava lost Kelly, things haven't been going so well. Even before she gets thrown out of school for shouting at the principal, there's the simmering rage and all the weird destructive choices. The only thing going right for Ava is her job at Magic Kebab. Which is where she meets Gideon. Skinny, shy, anxious Gideon. A mad poet and collector of vinyl records with an aversion to social media. He lives in his head. She lives in her grief. The only people who can help them move on with their lives are each other. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Tiny is an eighteen-year-old girl living on the streets of Sydney, running from her small-town past. She finds short-term accommodation at Hope Lane - a shelter for the homeless - where she meets Nola, a high school student on volunteer placement. Both girls share their love of words through the Hope Lane writing group. Can they share their secrets, too? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Sixteen year old Rory (Aurora) is at the crossroads in her life. While her gang plans its next move in a racially motivated turf war, Rory refuses to reveal their names and takes the rap for an attack on the local immigrant community. She is sentenced to community care in an aged care facility. There, she meets resident and ex-boxer Jack, an encounter that leads her to Essam, a young migrant boxer, who will challenge her prejudices and force her to address the mistakes of her past. Some violence. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

In 1985, Kirrali Lewis, a young Aboriginal teenager, leaves her home town in rural Victoria to begin a law degree in Melbourne. Adopted at birth by a white family, Kirrali doesn't question her cultural roots until a series of life-changing events force her to face up to her true identify. Her decision to search for her biological parents sparks off a political awakening that no one sees coming, least of all Kirrali.

Based on Matt Okine's award-winning stand-up show, this is a heart-breaking and hilarious story about trying to grow up when everything around you is falling down. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Set in The Rocks, Sydney, in the early 20th century. When Frankie first meets his new neighbour, Mickey Collins, he's not sure what to make of the scruffy, tough-talking ratbag. But, when he forms a gang, Mickey soon proves he's quick on his feet and good in a fight.

The bushfire season of 2019 and 2020 was the most catastrophic on record and the loss of lives, homes, property, habitat and wildlife were unprecedented. ABC journalists were present during these crises and reported information and updates on the growing fires. They gathered the many stories which can help those in the future understand what happened with the hope that lessons can be learned. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

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

In 2012, Combat Engineer Curtis McGrath was serving in the Australian Army in Afghanistan when, in the line of duty, he stepped on a land mine. Just months later, Curtis was up and walking on prosthetic legs, motivated by the opportunity to march with his unit in their welcome-home ceremony. Kayaking gave him a new sense of purpose and a year later, Curtis captained the Australian team at the inaugural Invictus Games in London, founded by Prince Harry for wounded, injured or ill veterans. Then, within four years of his injury, Curtis won gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Now a ten-time world champion gold medallist, Curtis is passionate about the power of sport to transform lives, he's ready at last to share his extraordinary story, and how he has approached every setback and challenge with courage, resilience, humour and grit. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

It is the 1940s and for Columba and Hilda the war seems a long way away until Ellery appears at their school, unable to speak any English. Curiosity spurs Columba's search for knowledge and understanding counterbalancing Hilda's unquestioning nationalism as the war edges ever closer to Australia's shores. The sudden appearance of the blue cat brings with it an aura of mystery and uncertainty culminating in a dramatic journey to Luna Park.

Snook joins his father on a tuna fishing expedition and disaster strikes.

After the shipwreck of the Batavia off Western Australia in 1629, a cabin boy and a soldier were involved in a grisly, notorious mutiny. Most mutineers were hanged but the two men were marooned on the mainland, becoming Australia's first European settlers. No trace of them was ever found. Later European explorers reported seeing Aboriginal Australians with blue eyes. This novel suggests what might have happened in between. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Ten year old Subhi is a Rohingya asylum seeker, born in an Australian permanent detention centre, Life behind the fences is all he has ever known and Subhi needs the stories of others to build memories. One night, Jimmie appears from the other side of the wires, bringing a bone sparrow necklace and a notebook, written by her dead mother. As their tales unfold, Subhi and Jimmie might find a way to freedom but not until each of them has been braver than ever before. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

Jono, a city-born Indigenous teenager is trying to figure out who he really is. Life in Brisbane hasn't exactly made him feel connected to his Country or community. After graduating, Jono and his friend Jenny score gigs at the Aboriginal Performing Arts Centre and an incredible opportunity comes knocking - interning with a documentary crew. Their mission? To promote a big government mining project in the Queensland desert. The catch? The details are sketchy, and the land is rumoured to be sacred. But who cares? Jono is stoked just to be part of something meaningful. Life takes a turn when they land in Gambari, a tiny rural town far from the city. He's haunted by an eerie omen of death, battling suffocating panic attacks, and even experiencing visions of Wudun - a malevolent spirit from the Dreaming. What's the real story behind the gas mining venture? Are the documentary crew hiding something from Jono? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

It's a hot summer, and life's going all right for Jackson and his family on the Mish. It's almost Christmas, school's out, and he's hanging with his mates, teasing the visiting tourists, avoiding the racist boys in town. Just like every year, Jackson's Aunty and annoying little cousins visit from the city - but this time a mysterious boy with a troubled past comes with them. As their friendship evolves, Jackson must confront the changing shapes of his relationships with his friends, family and community. And he must face his darkest secret - a secret he thought he'd locked away for good. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Matt is having trouble on the football field. Real trouble. All the enjoyment has been sucked out of the game that was once his whole life and now his body seems to be seizing up. He is tired all the time and overwhelmed by thoughts that leave him sure he's second rate. Which is when Matt meets Cliff, an abandoned puppy that needs saving. Perhaps together, they can help each other discover how to be brave.

To find freedom, you must leave behind everything you've ever known. It is 1825. You and Ma have survived on the streets of London ever since the soldiers took Da away and you fled Ireland. Now, with Ma gone too, you find yourself facing life-and-death choices at every turn. Can you carry a secret treasure across the ocean and finally be reunited with Da? You'll be asked to betray your friends, survive storms at sea and attacks by bushrangers, and trust thieves. At every turn, the choice is yours. How far will you go for freedom?

What happens when you mix teenage boys, a fight club and ethnic rivalries? You get war. Romeo Makhlouf knows the rules. Stick with your own kind. Don't dob on your mates or your enemies. Respect the family. But even unwritten rules are made for breaking. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Callie risked everything to try to save her sister Gracie from the Change, but she failed. Now she has to risk everything simply to stay alive in the Zone where the Change is everywhere and nothing is what it seems. Until she stumbles across a secret from her past that might hold the key to defeating the Change. Hunted and alone, she finds refuge in the most unexpected of places, only to find that she is in more danger than ever. This book is usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

One missing, presumed dead. Two in trouble with the law. Only four remain to solve the Second Sign. The DARE Award winners Yasmin, Zander, Andy, Dylan, JJ, Isabel and Mila have been caught in a deadly battle of wits with a mysterious enemy who isn't afraid to kill. Too late, they learned that the First Sign predicted catastrophic attacks which have left Egypt in chaos. Yasmin is missing. Many more lives are at stake. With Andy and Dylan in police custody in LA, can the remaining four DARE winners unravel the Second Sign seven new symbols and stop The Signmakers destructive plan before the countdown ends? If you could be a hero, would you DARE? Seven Signs. Seven days to save the world.

It's 1979 and the sky is falling. Skylab, that is. Somewhere high above Frankie Avery, one of the world's first space stations is tumbling to Earth. And rushing back with it are old memories. Things twelve-year-old Frankie thought she'd forgotten. Things her mum won't talk about, and which her little brother Newt never knew. Only ... did he? Does he? Because as Skylab circles closer, Newt starts acting strangely. And while the world watches the sky, Frankie keeps her own eyes on Newt. Because if anyone's going to keep him safe, it's her. It always has been. But maybe this is something bigger than splinters and spiders and sleepwalking. Maybe a space station isn't the only thing heading straight for calamity.

Nothing's been the same for Beth Teller since she died. Her dad, a detective, is the only one who can see and hear her - and he's drowning in grief. But now they have a mystery to solve together. Who is Isobel Catching, and what's her connection to the fire that killed a man? What happened to the people who haven't been seen since the fire? As Beth unravels the mystery, she finds a shocking story lurking beneath the surface of a small town, and a friendship that lasts beyond one life and into another. Told in two unforgettable voices, this gripping novel interweaves themes of grief, colonial history, violence, love and family. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

This is a tennis story. It is a family story. It is a teamwork story. It is the story of how Ash Barty got to be who she is today. It is her story about the power and joy of doing that thing you love and seeing where it can take you. This book reflects on her whole tennis journey, from the first time she picked up a racquet to packing her bag after winning the Australian Open in 2022. It explains how she worked through self-doubt, homesickness and a break from the sport to realise her tennis dreams, winning Wimbledon and ranking number 1 in the world. Ash is hoping her story will inspire you to follow your dreams.

Merrick Hilton has done a runner. On his postie bike. With his swag and a need to clear his head before the HSC. He plays his parents and hits the road. But there's no telling how he'll handle life's potholes when things don't go as planned. Thankfully Victor - an old bloke he meets on the road - knows a bit about broken postie bikes, and broken hearts. Will Victor, Merrick, and the dog survive road-kill, the kindness of strangers, a rave, mindless violence and unexpected romance? There's only one way to find out. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

From Australia's best-loved storyteller comes the final book in the bestselling Matilda Saga This is the story of our nation, told in a single sweeping love story Jed Kelly has finally persuaded her great aunt Nancy to tell the story of her grandparents. The tale that unfolds is one of Australia's greatest romances, that of Clancy of the Overflow, who gave up everything for Rose, the woman he adored, and yet still gained all he'd left and more.

In a dead-end town like Barwen, sixteen year old Clancy feels like a freak. She has a dysfunctional family, a real interest in Nature Club and a big crush on the local hot girl. Then, her dad is involved in a smash that kills two teenagers and the family must deal with the hostile town. Clancy meets someone who might become a friend and Sasha starts to show what may be a romantic interest. This is the summer when Clancy has to figure out just who she is. Adult themes, language. Usually read by years 9, 10 or above.

Deserted by her father and kept in the dark about her brother's accident, high schooler Ashley Davies has her own secrets. When she enters a forbidden rock climbing contest to teach her bully a lesson, she ends up uncovering old wounds about her family's connection to another's heartache. Climb is a coming of age story of resilience, grit, and self-discovery.

Following the death of his older sister in a car accident, a nine year old boy is surrounded by the grief of his family.

Millions of Australians have been affected by war. Many servicemen and servicewomen have faced extraordinary dangers, while their loved ones waiting at home suffered months, and even years, of uncertainty. Yet, despite the difficulties, a strong sense of shared experience, friendship, and camaraderie often developed.

Nash finds himself pulled between his two parents after their divorce. This is not uncommon, however his mum is the local police officer and his dad is a retired boxer and former prisoner who finds himself needing to come up with a large amount of money very quickly. Nash finds his love and loyalty to his father tested as he is involved in his father's past mistakes and present schemes.

While Zander lies dying on the ground, the rest of the DARE Seven are left to defend themselves with only small zap guns against a massive swarm of crazed robot animals-monkeys, tigers, growling lions, wolves, gorillas, and more. It sounds like an awesome video game...except that it's real. With the increasing intensity of The Signmaker's sinister scheme, the next sign will lead to something even more dangerous than facing a pack of deadly robots. It will take the DARE winners into the heart of a jungle to face Bogota's most despicable villain. If you could be a hero, would you DARE? Seven Signs. Three days left to save the world.

Natalie is living proof that love is a scam. She's traumatised by her parents' failed marriage and overwhelmed by her grandmother's expectations of good Lebanese girls - marriage, motherhood and exceptional tabouli-making skills. When her best friend decides to get hitched to a guy in the motherland, Nat's not exactly thrilled by the mammoth task before her: juggling cultural traditions, extra bridesmaid dresses and super-judgemental relatives. And to top it off there's the annoyingly good-looking best man and his constant need to mansplain all of the things. Natalie is in for the trip of her life. But can she save her friend from the cult of romance, without falling in love herself? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Patch is out of place at Mountford College- she wears the wrong clothes, she's not sporty or popular, she lives in a small flat above her dad's record shop a world away from the leafy suburb where she goes to school. And she has a secret long-term crush on basketball star Evie Vanhoutte. Evie barely knows Patch exists until an accident involving a bottle of ink and Patch's school uniform sparks a friendship that's equal parts exhilarating and terrifying, and very, very confusing. As if that weren't enough, Patch is also trying to deal with a jealous school bully, forgetting to be supportive of her transitioning best friend, Edwin, and worrying about how a potential new stepmother could throw everything off course. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Australian refugee stories is a unique anthology of essays, interviews, and stories written by children and young adults. The stories are the finest of hundreds collected through a nationwide schools competition in 2002. The essays and stories represent many different countries and themes. Some focus on survival, some on horrors, some on the experiences and alienation of a new world. This book is usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above, and contains stories featuring difficult and potentially confronting subjects and experiences.

We all make decisions every day that shape the lives we lead. In times of war, decision-making can take on a greater significance. Many Australians over the past century of service have demonstrated leadership with the decisions they have made.

It's been three months since Henry disappeared and Chloe wants answers as badly as Mason wants her to just back off and leave him alone. The evidence mounts and friendships are tested in this gripping YA thriller set in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

Yinti travels from one outback place to another. He is a Desert Cowboy who experiences a series of firsts: learning the kartiya language (English), his first pay, seeing kartiyas (whitefellas), cars, cows and horses and trousers made from flour bags.

Spinifex, a dingo pup, is adopted by a family living in the traditional way, moving from waterhole to waterhole. Based on an incident in his childhood, the pup encountering station life shares the experience of Jimmy Pike's own people.

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

Dougy's sister, Gracey, is chosen for the State Athletics Championships but it leads to violence. It is up to Dougy to save his family from the racist war that ensues and the mysterious Moodagudda. The first book in a trilogy.

A wonderful work of magical realism from a debut Australian Author. The Dream Walker is the story of Lucy, 16 years old and desperate to escape her life in her small impoverished fishing village. But the year ahead will change not only Lucy but reshape her entire world. Framed by the stunning Northern Queensland setting this magical tale, equally sad and optimistic, with remarkably believable characters is a joy to read and a book that is difficult to forget. Contains mature themes, usually read by student in Years 9,10 or above.

Cecilia grew up on a farm, with her six brothers, in rural Queensland. She despised her neighbours, the Kapernicky girls. When Cecilia returns as an adult, secrets which were deeply buried come to the surface. Contains adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

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

Eleanor Jones has just started at her ninth high school in less than five years. Since she and her mum are always moving on, Eleanor likes to stay on the outer, to stay invisible. So maybe it's just bad luck that the very first person she talks to at Cooinda Secondary College, Angus Marshall, is stabbed and left for dead the same day. The last message on Angus's phone is from Eleanor Jones. After being interviewed by the police, Eleanor realises they don't have all the facts and decides to investigate. In trying to understand what happened to Angus, Eleanor inadvertently becomes involved with an eclectic group of fellow students - all of whom have their own reasons to want to solve the mystery. As they slowly unravel Angus's secrets, Eleanor discovers the true meaning of friendship - and uncovers a danger lurking at the heart of the town...

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

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

There have been fires before, but not like this. In 1978, as the hot wind howls and the grass dries, all who live at Gibber's Creek know their land can burn. But when you love your land, you fight for it. For Jed Kelly, an even more menacing danger looms: a man from her past determined to destroy her. Finding herself alone, trapped and desperate to save her unborn child, Jed's only choice is to flee - into the flames. Heartbreaking and powerful, Facing the Flame celebrates the triumph of courage and community, and a love for the land so deep that not even bushfire can erode it.

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.

What if there was a secret organisation of the leading medical experts that allowed young medical students to carry human experiments out - on themselves? This is the premise of this psychological thriller. Miri is a gifted 17 year old medical student who is willing to test her theories on herself. But, who really is in control? What is Miri up against, and what has she got to loose? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A story that focuses on the common and shared history of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, and how many individuals are personally coming to terms with this history. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Since the disappearance of her identical twin sister nine years ago, 16-year-old Frankie has kept her distance from everyone. Despite the years that have passed, she spends her days scanning and searching for her sister. When the police fail to find an 11-year-old runaway, Frankie takes it upon herself to find her. Despite her best attempts to stay out of the public eye, this earns her a reputation as a 'finder'. Enter Elias - an extrovert with an extravagant sense of fashion and endless enthusiasm, who is looking for his birth mother. When Elias offers to employ a cash-strapped Frankie to track down his birth mother, she reluctantly agrees. What follows next is a journey of self-discovery as both Frankie and Elias uncover the things that truly define them. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Finn comes to the city for his first big break as a stablehand at a large racetrack. Working with the horses he loves, Finn feels valuable for the first time in his life. But there's trouble at the track, and Finn finds it difficult to know who to trust.

Ben watched in horror as the firestorm approached on Ash Wednesday in 1983.

It's not easy being a teenage boy growing up in the tough neighbourhood of Glebe in the 1930s. It's even harder when your dream is to become an aviator, your parents are dead against it, and your girlfriend's father is the School Principal. But Joe has even bigger challenges he must face and obstacles to overcome in order to achieve his dream. He has come up with a plan and won't let anyone stand in his way.

Two young women a century apart are mysteriously connected. While 21st century Lizzie abandons old friends and makes reckless choices, 20th century Evie's dreams are torn apart by WW1. Lizzie and Evie will discover strength and courage from unexpected places. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

1969. While astronauts are navigating to the moon, Sharnie is navigating her way through her first year in high school (just). She wonders if the world will change when man walks on the moon. However much Sharnie wishes things would stay the same, change is coming. She feels less included in the life of her older sister, Cas, who is growing up and growing away from her. Family life gets rocky as her patriotic dad discovers Cas has met a returned soldier and is intent on making a stand about conscription and Australia's involvement in the Vietnam war. At school, Sharnie's only friend Mia is also drifting away from her towards her nemesis, Ellie. She usually finds comfort at her grandma's but Grandma is becoming forgetful lately and Sharnie is worried. Although it is hard, will Sharnie be courageous enough to moonwalk, to find her own way?

Ben and Noah play in opposing teams in a footy-obsessed town. They each dream of playing on 'The G' and this is their make or break season. When an ugly sledging incident occurs in a match, Ben and Noah's worlds intersect and a fledgling friendship develops. But, their friendship seems impossible as Noah faces racial prejudice and Ben must decide whether to reject the racism, which is even coming from his own family.

No tragedy and no challenge has proved too hard for Susan Alberti. The woman from the working-class suburbs has battled boardrooms, courts, lymphoma and adult diabetes; and, was one of the driving forces behind the AFL's move into women's football. This is a story of passion, generosity and a woman who will inspire you to take on the seemingly impossible and triumph.

22 Australian Test players , past and present , talk about the road from their backyards to the baggy green. More than just a chat with the game's best players, (male and female), this is a conversation about Australian cricket. At the heart is the baggy green. This book is about the importance of generosity, sportsmanship, perseverance and community to help achieve personal goals in life, as much as sport.

Beth Millar has always lived in Deni. In a small rural town. Her biggest problem is telling her over protective and fiercly private father that she has a boy friend. Whey her father disappears into thin air, Beth discovers that he's not who she thought he was, in fact nothing is what she thought. Her family's secret past has caught up with them and now someone wants them all dead. Beth has been training for this moment her whole life without even knowing, but will it be enough to keep ahead of her hunters? Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 and above.

Fifteen year old Robbie knows bad things happen in Walgaree. But, it's nothing to do with him. The Aborigines have always been treated this way. In 1965, racial tensions are at boiling point and something is headed to Walgaree that will blow things apart. Robbie must take a stand. Nothing will ever be the same. Based on true events in Australia when university students drew attention to racism and segregation.

When Henni's stubborn old neighbour Willa insists on returning to her childhood home in the Netherlands for a wedding, Henni leaps at the chance to be her travelling companion. 'Lucky duck! Fantastic opportunity!' That's what everyone in Stella Street said. 'Oh boy, chance of a lifetime.' But during the long flight to Amsterdam, Willa reveals to Henni the real reason for her journey: a terrible family secret stretching back to the Second World War. As Henni makes friends with more and more of Willa's relatives, she must decide if they should know the truth. And is that the only mystery?

In graphic novel format, the truth about the assault on Gallipoli in 1915 is revealed. Rather than being a botched attack, planned by indifferent British generals, the Gallipoli campaign was carefully thought out and included an amphibious attack on the beach by ANZAC officers.

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

When sixteen-year-old Yin Mitchell is abducted, the news reverberates through the whole Year Ten class at Balmoral Ladies College. As the hours tick by, the girls know the chance of Yin being found alive is becoming smaller and smaller. Everyone is affected by Yin's disappearance - even scholarship student Chloe, who usually stays out of Balmoral dramas, is drawn into the maelstrom. And when she begins to form an uneasy alliance with Natalia, the queen of Year Ten, things get even more complicated. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Stacey and Laney are twins - mirror images of each other - and yet they're as different as the sun and moon. Stacey works hard at school, determined to get out of their small town. Laney skips school and sneaks out of the house to meet her boyfriend. But when Laney disappears one night, Stacey can't believe she's just run off without telling her. As the days pass and Laney doesn't return, Stacey starts dreaming of her twin. The dreams are dark and terrifying, difficult to understand and hard to shake, but at least they tell Stacey one key thing - Laney is alive. It's hard for Stacey to know what's real and what's imagined and even harder to know who to trust. All she knows for sure is that Laney needs her help. Stacey is the only one who can find her sister. Will she find her in time? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

When seventeen year old Jed Kelly turns up at Drinkwater Station, claiming to be the great-granddaughter of Matilda Thompson's dying husband, she has no evidence and won't even reveal her real name. Badly-wounded Vietnam War veteran, Nicholas, is haunted by ghosts and his changed life. As Jed settles in to life on the Station, she feels part of a real family for the first time. Her secrets remain hidden, for now. Set during the turbulence of the late 1960s, a time of hippies, anti-war demonstrations and Australia's vital role in the unforgettable first moon walk.

It is 1919 and World War I casts its shadow across Australia, particularly for orphaned sixteen-year-old Flinty McAlpine. The man Flinty loves returned from war so changed and distant. Her brother Andy 'gone with cattle', leaving Flinty in charge of their younger brother and sister and with the threat of eviction from the farm she loves. A brumby muster held under the watchful eye of the legendary Clancy of the Overflow offers hope.

Matthew sets off alone to find Aboriginal rock paintings that he knows are hidden in Goanna Gorge. When Matthew realises he is lost, the strange, wild country seems to mock him with its secrets until he meets the girl with no name.

Australia's gold rushes of the nineteenth century produced tremendous wealth and population growth for the struggling Australian colonies. People from all walks of life made the perilous journey to the goldfields, returning either fabulously wealthy or demoralised and broke. It was a time of huge political, social and cultural change. Includes diaries, journals, letters, official reports, newspaper articles of the time. A challenging read. Usually read by students in Years 9,10 or above.

It's school holidays and Gracey is coming home to Cunningham, a remote country town. Everything looks different, even frightening. When her brother, Dougy, finds three aboriginal bones, a chain of events causes Gracey to reconnect with her Aboriginal heritage. Includes coarse language and adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Pearl and Vally Cole live in a bookshop. And not just any bookshop. In 1893, Cole's Book Arcade in Melbourne is the grandest bookshop in the world, brimming with every curiosity imaginable. Each day brings fresh delights for the siblings: voice-changing sweets, talking parrots, a new story written just for them by their eccentric father. When Pearl and Vally learn that Pa has risked the Arcade - and himself - in a shocking deal with the mysterious Obscurosmith, the siblings hatch a plan. Soon they are swept into a dangerous game with impossibly high stakes: defeat seven challenges by the stroke of midnight and both the Arcade and their father will be restored. But if they fail Pearl and Vally won't just lose Pa - they'll forget that he and the Arcade ever existed.

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

What is it like to grow up Aboriginal in Australia? This anthology, compiled by award-winning author Anita Heiss, attempts to showcase as many diverse voices, experiences and stories as possible in order to answer that question. Each account reveals, to some degree, the impacts of invasion and colonisation - on language, on country, on ways of life, and on how people are treated daily in the community, the education system, the workplace and friendship groups. Accounts from well-known authors and high-profile identities sit alongside newly discovered voices of all ages, with experiences spanning coastal and desert regions, cities and remote communities. All of them speak to the heart - sometimes calling for empathy, oftentimes challenging stereotypes, always demanding respect. This groundbreaking anthology aims to enlighten, inspire and educate about the lives of Aboriginal people in Australia today. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Layla Karimi has been cursed by the evil eye. Well, that's what Layla's superstitious grandmother tells her. And Layla reckons it makes sense as she's sort of Australian and sort of Lebanese: a 'halfie' who doesn't really fit into either world. And when all hell breaks loose at the first beach party of the summer, Layla finds herself caught between her friends and the Lebanese kids who call themselves 'the Cedar Army' (of which her cousin Sufia is the Queen Bee). One group has been wrongfully accused and Layla knows the truth that would clear their name. But will she speak up?

A mystery surrounds Harry's late father, a Vietnam veteran. Grandfather knows but he won't say, and no-one in Harry's family wants to have anything to do with Grandpa. Harry spends a lot of time recording Grandpa's memories of heroic action in World War ll. After Grandpa addresses Harry's class at school, the mystery is solved, leaving Harry devastated. Some adult themes and coarse language in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Seventeen-year-old Sophie hates Monday mornings, socks worn with sandals, and having to strategise like she's a battle sergeant every time she asks her parents if she can go out. But she especially hates being stereotyped because she's Lebanese. When New Guy, Shehadie Goldsmith, is alienated at her Lebanese school because his dad's Australian, she hates the way it makes her feel. Like she's just as prejudiced as everyone else. Like she could make a difference if she stopped pretending she's invisible. Like the attraction between them might be too strong to fight... But hate is such a strong word... Can Sophie find the strength to speak out - even if it means going against everything she's been brought up to believe? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

Three women from very different backgrounds meet on the long sea voyage from their homeland of England to Sydney. They quickly bond in an unlikely friendship. Indulged and wealthy, Kat Fitzhubert, has been sold in an arranged marriage to someone in the new colony. Lady Viola Montefiore is a dark skinned lady that her family has kept hidden and then shipped to the new colony. Titiana Boot is as broad as a carthorse and as useful. Jackie French defies the myth of colonial women in the 1850s as merely wives, servants, or petty thieves. Instead she portrays them as businesswomen, farmers, bushrangers and illegal brewers. All of this happens as the convict colony reinvents itself into a land of gold rushes and illusive riches. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

A WWII Japanese airman in the two greatest battles fought on Australian soil, shamed by his capture, faces a dilemma - uphold the honour of his family or risk the life of his young wife? Duty is heavy as a mountain, death as light as a feather. He conceals his true name to protect his family. Suicide is a possibility, but he's drawn away from his military indoctrination by experiences with ordinary Australians, drawn towards living out his own individuality. But the young bride he left behind had vowed she would kill herself if he died. He could write to tell her he lives, but would that reveal his cowardice, shame his family? A tale of the Australian WWII experience, seen through the eyes of this deeply troubled man.

For more than a century and a half, a grim tale has passed down through Michael Veitch's family: the story of the Ticonderoga, a clipper ship that sailed from Liverpool in August 1852, crammed with poor but hopeful emigrants - mostly Scottish victims of the clearances and the potato famine. Hoping for a better life in Australia. Three months later, a ghost ship crept into Port Phillip Bay flying the dreaded yellow flag of contagion. Deadly typhus had erupted, killing a quarter of the passengers and leaving many more desperately ill. Sharks followed the ship. Panic stuck Melbourne. James William Henry Veitch was the ship's assistant surgeon, on his first appointment to sea. Annie Morrison was a volunteer who helped him. Michael Veitch is their great-great grandson and Hell Ship is a well researched narrative which brings to life the hardships and horrors endured by those who came by sea to seek a new life in Australia. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Henry Lawson, one of Australia's most famous writers, was known as the 'Poet of the People', Lawson's writing captures life in the Australian bush and the hardships and everyday lives of ordinary Australians in the 1800s. Lawson's stories and poems are full of the drama and often absurd humour that characterised life in the Australian outback in the early years of our nation.

Samuel Johnson and Hilde Hinton, along with their late sister, Connie, have raised more than ten million dollars for cancer research. In this book, they have written a collection of simple stories about ordinary Australians who have faced extraordinary circumstances. All of these regular people, people you would meet on the street, have found reasons to stay positive and focused on believing in the power of kindness and positive thinking. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

In 1628, Veronica and her brother flee for their lives into the German woods after their father is burned at the stake. At the dawn of the eighteenth century, Scottish maid Katherine is lured into political dissent after her parents are butchered for their beliefs. In present-day Australia, Paisley navigates her way through the burning torches of small-town gossip after her mother's new-age shop comes under scrutiny. A powerful historical novel about three young women caught in the hysteria of their own times.

When Melati Nelson wins a scholarship to an elite Melbourne high school, she buries her bad girl past. But after the school unfairly punishes her, a defiant Mel steals a diary from the school counsellor's office, only to discover a coded cry for help. The diary belongs to Devi, a young Indonesian girl who is being held by traffickers. Mel races against the clock, in a desperate journey that takes her from Melbourne to Java, to work out Devi's identity and where she's being held. Before long the pieces fall into place and Mel must put her own life on the line to save a girl she's never met. A gripping and original novel that explores privilege, responsibility, and the difficult and dangerous choices we are sometimes forced to make.

This #LoveOzYA anthology - the first to focus entirely on horror - unites a stellar cast of Australia's finest YA authors with talented new and emerging voices, including two graphic artists. The stories in this wide-ranging collection dig deep and go hard. While some are straight-up terrifying rollercoaster rides, others are psychologically rooted in our society's deepest fears and concerns: acceptance and fitting in, love and loss, desire and temptation, and the terror of a world threatened by catastrophic change -- and even collapse. From body horror to the supernatural, hauntings to transformations, and the everyday evil of humans to menacing outside forces, Hometown Haunts will have you glued to your chair... until you leap out of it! Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Rudra is an Indian-Australian boy at a crossroads, poised to step into the world of adulthood and to discover his cultural heritage and how that might truly define him. A wonderful exploration of dual heritage, cultural identity, family and the power of storytelling. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

In a world where bees are extinct, the quickest, bravest kids climb fruit trees and pollinate the flowers by hand. All Peony wants to be is a bee - dancing along the high branches and helping her gramps and sister scratch out a living. Life on the farm is a scrabble, but there is enough to eat and a place to sleep, and there is love. Then Peony's mother arrives to take her away from everything she has ever known. Will Peony's grit and quick thinking be enough to keep her safe?

Stella may only be seventeen, but having read every self-help book she can find means she knows a thing or two about helping people. She sure wasn't expecting to be the one in need of help, though. Thanks to her father's gambling addiction, Stella and her family now find themselves living at Fairyland Caravan Park. And hiding this truth from her friends is hard enough without dealing with another secret. Stella's birth mother has sent her a letter. As Stella deals with the chaos of her family, she must also confront the secrets and past of her 'other' family. But Stella is stronger than she realises. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Elly Pickering has a juicy secret. A secret her PR mum won't let her tell anyone because if the kids at Oldcastle High knew that mega-star Jake Blake (yes, THE Jake Blake, teen sensation and all round heart-throb) was coming to Oldcastle to film his latest movie, they might just explode with excitement. Elly is determined to get on set and to get more than a glimpse of her Hollywood crush. But now thanks to an unfortunate incident involving a car, a red handbag and the paparazzi, it looks like Elly's lost a lot more than her opportunity to be close to Hollywood royalty. She's lost her dignity, her job and her best friend. How can she get everything back to normal?

The poignant story of a nine year old Aboriginal boy who was taught a traditional way of life until he was taken from his family, in accordance with the official government policy of the time.

It's 1972 in Gibber's Creek, and across the nation, the catchcry is, 'It's time'. As political ideals drift from disaster to the dismissal, it's also time for Jed Kelly to choose between past love, Nicholas, the local Labor member, and Sam from the Halfway to Eternity commune. It's time too for Matilda Thompson to face her ghosts and the life that took a young girl from the slums of Grinder's Alley to being the formidable matriarch of Gibber's Creek. During this period of extraordinary social change and idealism, modern Australia would be born. And although the nation would dream of a better world, it would continue to struggle with opposing ideas of exactly what that better world might be.

Life and love don't wait until you're ready, but what if finding yourself means losing everything you've ever known? Seventeen-year-old Alex Summers lives with a secret and the constant fear someone will find out. But when a new family moves to town, they bring with them their teenage daughter Phoenix Stone. When Alex falls for Phoenix, there is no warning. In a small town with small minds, girls don't go out with other girls, even if they want to. In fear there is bravery - you can either cling to the edge or have the courage to jump. But what do you do when you're left spiralling through the freefall? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

This is the story of Dujuan Hoosan, a 10-year-old Arrernte and Garawa boy. A wise, funny, cheeky boy. A healer. Out bush, his healing power (Ngangkere) is calm and straight. But in town, it's wobbly and wild, like a snake. He's in trouble at school, and with the police. He thinks there's something wrong with him. Dujuan's family knows what to do: they send him to live out bush, to learn the ways of the old people, and the history that runs straight into all Aboriginal people. So he can be proud of himself.

What does a teenage boy do when he has no friends? When everyone who knows him sneers? When he is laughed at to his face? The answer is simple. That boy chooses his own path. That boy makes his own way in life. That boy grows stronger. He finds his secret place and there- alone, in the dark- he grows even stronger. Ben Gardner is such a boy. Ben Gardner could be you...

Year 12 is finished. Some students can't wait to escape their small town, others don't want to leave. Alba is unsure whether to pursue her drawing talents or stay working in the bakery. When Doomsday enthusiasts flock to the town to survive an apocalypse, Alba's childhood heartthrob, Daniel, arrives. Compared to figuring out her heart, Armageddon might be the least of her problems. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

When twelve-year-old Clancy and her fourteen-year-old sister, Tash, kidnap their grandfather from his aged-care home, it's almost by accident. But they soon set out on an intrepid adventure, in search of a better place for Pa to live. Along the way they face many challenges, and Clancy becomes increasingly sure that their journey is being guided. Is the ghost of their grandmother accompanying them on their quest?

We first meet Marc Jarvis and his best mate, Travis, as stereotypical sports-playing, girl-ogling sixteen year olds. As the book unfolds, we see beyond the exterior as Marc makes sense of his feelings and attitudes. His views about people, loyalty, friendship, love and its loss are challenged.

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

As a young Brisbane kid, Johnathan Thurston was written off as too skinny, too slow and too wild to play rugby league professionally. But he defied the odds to become one of the game's greatest players. In this young readers' edition of his bestselling autobiography, follow his journey from his debut with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2003, to State of Origin star, and to total legend of the game.

A city in chaos. Seven in a desperate battle for survival. Billions across the world on the brink of apocalypse. The DARE Seven face danger from all sides: violent criminals are hunting them down, trigger-happy police suspect them of murder and The Signmaker keeps changing the rules of the game. As the clock keeps ticking towards the Fourth Sign, can Zander, Yasmin, Dylan, Andy, Isabel, Mila and JJ reach the next target and prevent the deadliest attack yet? Or will they fall victim as The Signmaker becomes ever more ruthless? If you could be a hero, would you DARE? Seven Signs. Four days left to save the world...

The story of Jandamurra and the struggle for justice by the Bunuba peoples in the late 19th century.

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

What does it mean to be queer? What does it mean to be human? In this powerful #LoveOzYA collection, twelve of Australia's finest writers from the LGBTQ+ community explore the stories of family, friends, lovers and strangers, and the connections that form us. This inclusive and intersectional #OwnVoices anthology for teen readers features work from writers of diverse genders, sexualities and identities, including writers who identify as First Nations, people of colour or disabled. With short stories by bestsellers, award winners and newcomers to young adult fiction including Jax Jacki Brown, Claire G Coleman, Michael Earp, Alison Evans, Erin Gough, Benjamin Law, Omar Sakr, Christos Tsiolkas, Ellen van Neerven, Marlee Jane Ward, Jen Wilde and Nevo Zisin. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Six months ago, Zoey's life went off the rails. After the tragic loss of her brother, she partied her way to oblivion, estranged her best friend, Cass, and pushed away her now ex, Finn. But when her destructive behaviour reaches dangerous heights, Zoey realises she needs to pull herself together and get her old life back, including her ex. There's just one complication: Finn is now dating Cass. Now, it's the last week of summer and Zoey, Cass and Finn are setting out on the road trip of a lifetime to see their favourite musician, Gray, perform live, joined by Finn's infuriatingly attractive bad-boy cousin Luc and his vibrant younger sister Jolie. Zoey thinks this is her chance to put things to rights and convince Finn they should get back together. But she wasn't counting on her friends' lingering resentment, Luc's disarming sincerity, and Jolie's infectious love for life to turn her plans upside down. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Under the burnt timber of the church, the police have found the body of Merv Ignatious, the man who so viciously attacked Jed Kelly when she was fifteen, and tried to kill her and her unborn child in last year's bushfire. And also in the church, lie skeletons from many years ago.

Shane's family lives on a remote station. Most of the Aboriginal people have been driven off but Red and her grandfather remain. All risk losing their homes when a big company wants to combine five stations. Strong language used in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

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

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

A story for more mature readers about the tentative friendship between Linda and old Mrs Pugh in the nursing home. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The book tells the stories of the Butchulla people, the Indigenous people of Fraser Island and the Fraser Coast, Queensland. Published in 1964, it was the first Aboriginal children's book to be published and was written and designed by Butchulla siblings Moonie Jarl (Wilf Reeves) and Wandi (Olga Miller), both of whom have since passed away. The Legends of Moonie Jarl gives a deeper understanding and appreciation of Butchulla culture among the broader community, and contributes to community pride locally.

Age is no barrier to creating poetry that inspires social change and positive action. Thirteen-year-old award-winning slam poet Solli Raphael is taking on the world - one word at a time. The future needs you and me to create equality across all levels of humanity - Solli.

Layla has ended the school year on a high and can't wait to spend the holidays hanging out with her friends and designing a prize-winning Grand Designs Tourismo invention. But Layla's plans are interrupted when her grandmother in Sudan falls ill and the family rush to be with her. The last time Layla went to Sudan she was only a young child. Now she feels torn between her Sudanese and Australian identities. As political tensions in Sudan erupt, so too do tensions between Layla and her family. Layla is determined not to lose her place in the invention team, but will she go against her parents' wishes? What would a Kandaka do? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Caitlyn is, in many ways, a normal thirteen year old girl with friends, teachers, and divorced parents. Caitlyn also has a spark. This comes out in her exceptional writing. Her dad probably does more than anyone to nurture this spark by creating fun and unexpected events for them on their weekends together. The balance she has found in spending time with both parents is threatened when her mum's boyfriend is offered a dream job in London. Caitlyn must fight to have a say in whether she stays in Melbourne with her dad or moves overseas with her mum.

Living on Hope Street is a glimpse of modern day Australia through the lens of a single street and the families that make their lives along it. Kane will do everything he can to save his mother and his little brother Sam from the violence of his father, even if it means becoming a monster himself. Mrs Aslan will protect the boys no matter what, even though her own family is in pieces. Ada wants a family she can count on, while she faces new questions about herself. Mr Bailey is afraid of the refugees next door, but his worst fear will take another form. And Gugulethu is just trying to make a life away from terror. On this street, everyone comes from different places, but to find peace they will have to discover what unites them. A deeply moving, unflinching portrait of modern Australian suburban life. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Living on Stolen Land is a prose-styled look at our colonial-settler present. A perceptive and thoughtful examination of the colonial contextual history of Australia. It pulls apart the myths at the heart of our nationhood, and challenges Australia to come to terms with its own past and its place within and on Indigenous Countries. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Emily loves the bush and the native animals on her family's reforested property, particularly the beautiful rainbow lorikeets that nest in one of the tallest trees. But then her father is diagnosed with a terminal illness, and Emily's world enters a tailspin. Her twin brother, Alex, refuses to accept the truth. His coping mechanism is to build elaborate additions to his treehouse in the superstitious belief that it will avert disaster - leaving Emily to deal with harsh reality on her own. When Alex secretly adopts a feral kitten, going against everything that's important to Emily, the siblings' emotions reach boiling point - with potentially dangerous consequences for them all.

Fourteen-year-old Lucy cannot believe her luck when she starts working in Louisa Lawson's female printery. But it is the 1880s and male printers everywhere think this type of work should be left to the men. When the union too decides to make life difficult for Lucy and her printer friends, Lucy knows she has many battles ahead. Along the way she will realise who her real friends are, and find first love.

Lyla has just started her second year of high school when a magnitude 6.3 earthquake shakes Christchurch to pieces. Devastation is everywhere. While her police officer mother and trauma nurse father respond to the disaster, Lyla puts on a brave face, opening their home to neighbours and leading the community clean-up. But soon she discovers that it's not only familiar buildings and landscapes that have vanished - it's friends and acquaintances too. As the earth keeps shaking day after day, can Lyla find a way to cope with her new reality?

Like Mike and Lisdalia, this book deals with the issues of adolescence with the added complication of living within two cultures. Maddie is a Vietnamese Australian.

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

Alice Dyson knows exactly how she'll be spending her final year of high school: with her head down, concentrating on her textbooks and homework. She's focused on the future, and nothing is going to get in her way. Until a bizarre encounter with the school's most notorious troublemaker derails all her plans, turning Alice into the unwilling centre of attention and her life into one enormous complication. And even worse? Now Teddy Taualai won't leave her alone. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, and above.

Sandy Douglas knows that life at fifteen is hard - his mother died a year ago and his 18-year old brother, Red, has gone off the rails. As Sandy and Red deal with girls, friendship and their futures on their Mallee farm, both boys have to figure out who they want to be without their mum around. One thing is certain - the Mallee, where they live, may seem like the middle of nowhere, but it is going to be one hell of a year. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Max Jones, country detective, is determined to uncover the truth about Possum, the town hermit.

When 16-year-old Shaun discovers a dead body in the lake of a quiet mining town in outback Queensland, he immediately reports it to the police. But when he returns to the site with the constable, the body is gone. Shaun's father drowned a few years ago, and now his mum and the authorities questions whether he saw a body at all. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

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

Meet Me at the Intersection is an anthology of short fiction, memoir and poetry by authors who are First Nations, People of Colour, LGBTIQA+ or living with disability. The focus of the anthology is on Australian life as seen through each author's unique, and seldom heard, perspective. With works by Ellen van Neerven, Graham Akhurst, Kyle Lynch, Ezekiel Kwaymullina, Olivia Muscat, Mimi Lee, Jessica Walton, Kelly Gardiner, Rafeif Ismail, Yvette Walker, Amra Pajalic, Melanie Rodriga, Omar Sakr, Wendy Chen, Jordi Kerr, Rebecca Lim, Michelle Aung Thin and Alice Pung, this anthology is designed to challenge the dominant, homogenous story of privilege and power that rarely admits "outsider" voices. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Tanmar's older brother is dead, her mum's gone away and her dad avoids talking about the things that really matter. Plagued by nightmares about her brother, Tamar has no interest in school or friends. When she discovers an old handwritten sheet of music and plays the tune, Tamar meets gifted violinist, Nathaniel, a man from her house's past. She is unwittingly drawn into a journey through time and music.

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

Ellie Marsden was born into the legendary Lovinger acting dynasty. Grandmother of the infamous Lottie Lovinger as a child Ellie shared the screen with Lottie playing the child monster in a cult indie horror movie. The experience left her traumatised and estranged from family members. Now 17, Ellie has returned home to Hobart as Lottie is dying and Ellie wants to make peace with her before it's too late. Ellie meets Riya, a young film buff who leads a feminist horror film club. Is this someone she could show her true self to and at last come to terms with her family's legacy.

AFLW player Tayla Harris was at work on the footy field when she kicked a goal. A photo of the kick, taken by Michael Wilson, showcased her incredible ability and was posted online. What happened next was an extraordinary turning point in Tayla's life. The photo quickly became iconic as Tayla stood strong against the online trolls. This is the inspiring story of Tayla's stellar sporting career and her hard-earned advice for navigating the ups and downs of social media.

Living in the commission, Lexie is left to fend for herself. Her mother is mostly absent, out searching for something to help her forget the tragic death of Lexie's dad. After witnessing the aftermath of a shocking incident, Lexie finds solace in the most unlikely of places, a troubled old man called The Creeper. A chance, life-saving encounter on the commission's roof seeds a friendship between the two and when they enlist the help of Lexie's friend Davey, the three set off on a epic journey; one that will change their lives forever. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

As the horrors of the First World War are drawing to a close, an influenza pandemic has arisen that will kill more people around the world than the Great War. Charlotte McKenzie, assisting the doctor, finds herself experiencing first hand the effects of this devastating disease. This is Charlotte's diary, written in post World War I Melbourne in 1918.

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

Jack McLaren, a fourteen year old, is offered a mechanics apprenticeship in Longreach, Queensland. He gets to travel north with two World War 1 pilots in a model T Ford, finding the best route for an air race. The beginning of QANTAS.

Victor March is 14 years old and looking for adventure. He lies about his age and enlists in the 10th Battalion to fight in the Great War. He is among the first soldiers to land at Anzac Cove in 1915 and his world will forever change.

Adventures on the high seas for an accidental stowaway with a mysterious and frightening past. But, it is yet to be established if the stowaway is Jules, or Julienne.

Kitty wrote her diary living in the slums of the Rocks in 1900. She describes the harsh experiences of her surroundings and details of life in early twentieth century Sydney.

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

Life in the early days at Sydney Cove is told through the diary of a young girl.

David Bellamy is afraid. He fears the strange new land of New South Wales, its inhabitants and its wild creatures. He fears his relatives who have taken him in and the swearing, cursing Governor Bligh. And then, on Anniversary Day, 26th January, 1808, David and his new friends, Kitty and Ralph, are on the streets of Sydney Town when the military march on Government House.

Mary is ten when she begins to write in her diary. She documents her life as an Aboriginal child who was taken from her natural parents and raised by a non-Aboriginal foster family. Mary doesn't fit in and starts to question why.

Kaya is completing her HSC when she is woken in the middle of the night by her mother. They are to pack immediately and go to their holiday home in the Blue Mountains. Her father is not coming back, after giving evidence against some dangerous criminals in court. Months later, they are still in hiding and the mysteries are multiplying. Kaya is not sure who to trust: her mother'd new friend, the policeman or her new friend, Eric, from the local store. She is also recovering from memory loss caused by PTSD after a chilling encounter with the criminals. She is seeing a psychologist in an attempt to recall the evidence she might have to give in a forthcoming trial. Will she remember - and what dangers will her memories lead to? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Jade Hameister is a truly remarkable Australian. At fourteen she decided on a goal: To be the youngest person in history to complete the Polar Hat-Trick. In this book you will be taken on her journey as she travels through polar lands hostile to human life and accomplishes something truly remarkable. An inspirational true story that might very well change your perspective on the limits on what is possible.

Phoebe's non-Indigenous mother, a busy event manager, and her father, an Aboriginal man and uni lecturer, have split up and she's moved to sleepy old Willunga with him and his new health-obsessed girlfriend. It's only a few kilometres from Phoebe's old friends and the city, but it feels like another world. Her new school is full of hippies, but some of the kids are cool and the local basketball team is tight, and before long Phoebe's fitting in. But as her mum becomes increasingly unreliable, Phoebe's grades begin to suffer, her place on the basketball team is under threat and her worries spiral out of control. Phoebe can't tell her friends and is worried her dad will get angry, but pretending everything is fine is breaking her heart. How can she help her mum without tearing her family apart? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Thomas Morris thinks something mysterious is going on in Bunbury. The telegrams he delivers carry cryptic messages and strangers are acting in odd ways. Tom writes down his exciting adventures as he becomes part of a mysterious and amazing plot.

In 1789, the new colony in Sydney is established. Nanberry is an Aboriginal boy who is raised by Surgeon John White and witnesses the struggles of the colonists to survive in the wilderness. Follow Nanberry and his white brother as they make their way in the world, as well as the young convict woman who becomes a lady in her own right. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Hugo and his father have come to Australia to research life in the gold fields. When the coach they are travelling on is bailed up by a bushranger, they decide to find out all they can about bushrangers. Little does Hugo know that when he befriends fifteen year old Ned Kelly, he is much closer to bushrangers that he expected. His comfortable travels with is father are about to lead to exciting and dangerous places.

The tale of Ned Kelly told as never before. Readers will enjoy not only the tale of the Kelly Gang and those who sought to imprison them but the faithful recreation of historical landscape on which this most amazing of stories was played out. Beautiful full colour illustrations bring the story to life and the addition of period newspaper clips make this a valuable study for readers of all ages with an interest in bushrangers or Australian history.

Written by Aunty Fay Muir, an Elder and Traditional Owner of Boon Wurrung Country. She is the senior linguist at the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages in Melbourne. This collection of definitions, words and phrases is titled Nganga, which is defined on page 84 as "a word from Boon Wurrung language, meaning to see and understand".

More than anything Devi Sharma wants to win the upcoming BollyOz competition for her mum. Then she'll be on her way to becoming Bollywood's first ever Australian half-Indian, sort of Kiwi, quarter Scottish, Vaisnavi vegan superstar! Then Devi starts AFL lessons at school and she's surprised to find she has talent...and a feeling she hasn't had in a long time. Can Devi convince her family to let her play AFL when nice girls don't play this football and her mum thinks it will risk her winning BollyOz? With the help of her best friend in the whole entire universe, Josie, Devi needs to come up with a plan so she can play footy like she wants and light the fire in her belly once again.

Imagine being the only two seventeen-year-olds in a small town. That's life for Kirby Arrow named after the most dissenting judge in Australia's history and her best friend Clancy Lee, would-be musical star. Clancy wants nothing more than to leave town and head for the big smoke, but Kirby is worried: her family has a history of leaving. She hasn't heard from her father since he left when she was a baby. Shouldn't she stay to help her mother with the goat's-milk soap-making business and look after her grandfather? And how could she leave her pet goat, Stanley, her dog Maude, and her cat Marianne? But two things happen that change everything for Kirby. She finds an article in the newspaper about her father, and Iris arrives in town. Iris is beautiful, wears crazy clothes, plays the mandolin, and seems perfect.. Clancy has his heart set on winning over Iris. Trouble is Kirby is also falling in love with Iris...Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Felix now has another Zelda in his life, his granddaughter. His life has been one of distinction, but still he feels a failure because his inability to save the first Zelda. It takes a typically Australian disaster for Felix to lay to rest the pain from his past, and for his granddaughter to understand her own strength of character.

Alif had exciting summer plans: working on her father's archaeological dig site in the desert with four close friends ... and a very cute research assistant. Then the sandstorm hit. With their camp wiped away, Alif and the others find themselves lost on the sands, seemingly doomed, until they discover the oasis. It has everything they need: food, water, shade and mysterious ruins that hide a deadly secret. As reality starts to shift around them, they question what's real and what's a mirage. The answers turn Alif and her friends against each other and they start to wonder if they are really saved. While it was easy to walk into the oasis, it might be impossible to leave. A supernatural thriller.

Our home town. Sometimes it feels like the centre of the universe, sometimes it's the bum-end of nowhere. We are her sons and daughters. These are our triumphs and our heartaches, our fears and hopes for a better life. Getting lost, falling in love, pushing boundaries, exploring the world - powerfully honest stories to make you think and feel, from the award-winning author of The Dead I Know and Changing Gear. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

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

Where the mist swallows mountains and winds whisper through ancient trees, a mother and her pup run wild and free. They hunt, but they are also hunted. Carted away. Sold for bounty. And then, one careless night...The last thylacine is gone. The beautiful but heartbreaking story of Australia's last thylacine (Tasmanian tiger), which died in captivity.

Sam has always had things going on in his head that no-one else understands, not even his mum. Now she's dead, it's worse than ever. With his skateboard and a few belongings in a garbage bag, Sam goes to live with the strangers his mum cut ties with seven years ago, Aunty Lorraine and his cousins, Shane and Minty. As the days slowly meld into one another and ghosts from the past reappear, Sam has to make the ultimate decision. Mature read. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

On his 11th birthday, Jacob's father gives him a diary to write about things that happen. But Jacob knows something should not be written down. Some things should not be remembered. The only things he knows for sure what his father has taught him. Jacob is sheltered, protected, isolated. But who is his father protecting him from? And how far will his father go to keep the world at bay?

Morgan Lodhi has been the target of bullies since he was in primary school. He seems to just attract them. He becomes known across the school as Pig and everyone around him find it easier to either ignore the bullying or just join in. High school is a battle ground but it is not without some pockets of kindness. Contains scenes of bullying which some readers may find confronting. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Seventeen-year-old Gwendolyn P. Pearson has become very good at not thinking about the awful things that have happened to her family. But following a strange disturbance at the cafe where she works, Gwen is forced to confront what happened to her family all those years ago. And she slowly comes to realise that people aren't as they first appear and that like her, everyone has a story to tell. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Suffering from an incurable disease, Adam Auttenberg sees the hospital as his second home. With some long-term special friends and an exciting new friendship he faces the toughest challenge. Peter Vu uses his own experiences to create an emotive text as a page turner. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

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

When 12 year old Ben's father loses their ancestral home in 1809 as payment for a gambling debt, Ben reluctantly joins him in a desperate venture to win it back, capturing enemy trading ships off the west Australian coast. While at sea, Ben must face not just the giant waves of the Southern Ocean but also the guns of a Dutch ship, along with unexpected treachery. And only the friendships of the mysterious convict Higgins and the young Indigenous sailor Guwara will help Ben survive, as well as show him the true meaning of loyalty and riches.

Plantastic! presents 26 of Australia's most unique and incredible native plants. Discover and identify native plants found in your local park, bushland or even your own backyard. With its perfect balance of fun facts, activities, adventurous ideas and gorgeous illustrations Plastic! will prove just how fantastic Australia's native plants really are.

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

Catalina Parkes Perez is used to living a normal life. But when her mum becomes Prime Minister her whole life changes. Life at The Lodge means having every moment scheduled and every outfit preapproved. But Cat and her mother disagree on practically everything, especially the government's climate policy. Now someone is trying to sabotage the new PM, putting Cat and everything she loves, in danger. Will she, with the help of some new friends, be able to make things right for her family and the country?

Harry is tired of being the tall new kid with red hair, big feet, and freckles. The one with the dead sister who's voice follows her every where she goes. People tell her she's imagining Sissy, but they are wrong, surely she wouldn't be such a pain if Harry was making her up? When Harry's wish for a horse comes true and Marksman comes into her life she wonders if she should have wished so hard, because Marksman is big, huge even, and Harry wonders if she has taken on more than she can deal with. But could this challenge be just what she needs to learn the difference between standing out and standing up?

Azra is sixteen, smart and enthusiastic. When she wins a place in a national science competition, Azra thinks her biggest problem will be getting her parents' permission to go. But, she doesn't know that they're busy arranging her marriage to an older cousin she's never met, in Pakistan, in just three months time. Azra's dreams of finishing high school with her friends then studying science are suddenly overshadowed. Her dreams and ambitions do not include marriage.

In 1930s Glebe, Joe Riley has to be creative to make pocket money. He's watched his dad keep ahead of the law and he's sure that he can too. When his parents send him to a Catholic boarding school, Joe is homesick and lonely. He meets the darker side of human nature and is at odds with the school, especially Brother Felix. Expelled, Joe is sent to a reform school where life is tough. But, through working the land, Joe eventually finds inner strength, peace and true freedom. Mature themes. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

In 1900, thirteen year old Issy McKelvie reluctantly leaves school to start her first job in an undertakers. She hates it but there's worse to come. Issy becomes an unwilling rat-catcher when the plague, the Black Death, arrives in Australia. She loathes the rats and her father's four yappy, snappy, hyperactive rat-killing terriers. But, when her dad becomes ill, Issy must join the battle to rid the city of the plague-carrying rats.

A prose-verse novel, set amidst the chaos and brutality of the Victorian goldfields in the 1800s. The narrator, traumatised by a fire in which her family died, and her mangy dog, Ratwhiskers, are befriended by a Chinese boy. Posing as a boy, she flees to the Chinese camp, pretending to be Chinese and taking a new name.

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.

Evie sees things. She's wary of the other kids at school- she doesn't want them to see her drawings or know how different she is...what would they say? She tries hard to block it all out and pretends to be normal, just like every one else. But a missing girl is trying to tell Evie something. A girl who is very persistent, who will not give up. A girl who once wore the red cardigan Evie now wears. As much as she tries, Evie can no longer ignore the question that demands an answer...who is the girl in the red cardigan? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Set in a modern-day small town among the remnants of a Japanese POW camp, this is the story of Charlie. Charlie has synaesthesia and hence sees and hears differently: people have auras; days of the week are coloured; numbers and letters have attitudes. But when Charlie meets Japanese exchange student Kenichi, her senses intensify and she experiences flashbacks, nausea, and hears unfamiliar voices in her head pulling her back to the town's violent past.

When young Amy goes to stay with her aunt in the central outback, she befriends Lana. Together, they must overcome racial and cultural barriers and join forces to foil a criminal who is stealing artefacts.

The little-known story of Reg Saunders, the first indigenous Australian to become an officer in the Army. He survived the World War II battlefields in the Middle East, North Africa, Greece, Crete and New Guinea, and excelled as a military leader. Find out how war transformed a determined young man, born in 1920 from country Victoria, into a war hero. Reg went on to serve with distinction in the Korean War and become a pioneering figure for indigenous rights. He died in 1990. A graphic novel.

Milo and Layla run into each other after an extended separation. As kids, they shared everything, but five years apart has taken their lives in different directions. Layla is dealing with the death of her mother, and Milo is feeling trapped, his life on hold since he finished year 12. Deals with the decisions that people make about their relationships, and the directions their lives will take. A moving, powerful story.

For sixteen years, Sam Thaiday has entertained Broncos, Queensland Origin and Australian fans, both on and off the field. This book tells his story. With his trademark humour and honesty, Sam reveals his roots as a Townsville boy and a die-hard Cowboys fan, his family connections to the Torres Strait, how his Mum taught him to pass and tackle, and all the ups and downs of a career playing the game he loves. Including advice for setting and reaching goals, handling setbacks, and finding what really matters in life, Rise: The Sam Thaiday Story (Young Readers' Edition) is a must-read for any young league fan, regardless who they barrack for.

Bluebell Laurence, crippled in a house fire, is rescued from her home by circus folk who warn of her imminent demise. Madam Zlosky administers a healing brew and Blue becomes Belle Magnifico, a mermaid and harem dancer who rides the pick-pocketing, gentle natured, circus elephant The Queen of Sheba. They travel and come to Gibber's creek where the story unfolds and Blue discovers the truth about herself and the magnanimous Madam Zlosky.

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 summer is finally here, and Pearl Nash is on a mission to save her slowly disintegrating friendship with a whirlwind end-of-year road trip. However, suddenly Pearl ends up stuck in the middle of the desert beside Obi Okocha, a boy with an irritating attitude. Add a breakdown, multiple arguments, an AWOL nana and a kiss; the perfect ingredients for a perfect disaster. Or is it? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

War is being fought on an horrific scale in the trenches of France. It is a world away from sixteen year old Midge Macpherson, at school in England learning to be a young lady. Desperate to do their bit and avoid the boredom of school, Midge and her friends start a canteen in France, caring for the endless flow of wounded soldiers returning from the front. Midge is thrust into carnage and scenes of courage she could never have imagined.

A gritty, compelling book, set in Melbourne in the early 1900s. Charlie becomes a runner for an underworld crim, Squizzy Taylor, to support his mother and train to become a professional athlete. Some coarse language used in context.

When Hannah and her family are shipwrecked they are rescued by a Pacific Islander boy named Jamie. Hannah's family then begin a new life in Port Harris, which at first seems a paradise for the schoolmaster's daughter. But local fortunes are built on slavery and the whip. As the new Federal Parliament passes the law that will force Pacific Islanders from their homes, Hannah and her mother risk everything to run a secret school, while Hannah and Jamie must fight for their rights to education and equality. Can friendship and love win against prejudice and power?

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

Shaping the Fractured Self showcases twenty-eight of Australia's finest poets who happen to live with chronic illness and pain. The autobiographical short essays, in conjunction with the three poems from each of the poets, capture the body in trauma in its many and varied moods. Because those who live with chronic illness and pain experience shifts in their relationship to it on a yearly, monthly or daily basis, so do the words they use to describe it. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Annie, young Aboriginal girl, is taken from her family in the north of Australia and sent to an institution in the distant south. Away from everything she knows and everyone she loves, Annie must make a new life in a strange world. A sister-friend brings fresh hope.

Seven excited contest winners from around the world meet to receive their prizes: money, holidays, new phones and of course fame. Things, it seems, couldn't get any better. But they certainly get worse. What the group realise too late is that they are trapped in an international race against time to decipher the first mysterious 'sign' and halt an unseen enemy known only as The Signmaker who is intent on death, destruction chaos.

The Administration has taken control of the country, and everything has changed for the city's homeless youth. Now they are forced to work in the Towers with no hope of escape. 17-year-old Ally works long, hard hours in the laundry and is resigned to her fate. She can even cope with the cruelty of the guards, because living in the Towers is still better than the tunnels where she used to live. But as lavish birthday preparations are in full swing for the Tower's charismatic overseer, Ally's boyfriend Bon, vanishes without a trace. In her desperate search to find him, Ally is caught up in a deadly plot by the Administration. And now she wasn't answers. What has happened to Bon? And why did he leave behind a drawing of a moth? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Zoe Kelly is starting a new phase of her life. High school was a mess of bullying and autistic masking that left her burnt out. Now, with an internship at an online media company, Zoe is taking her first steps on the road to her dream career. When her article about her non-existent love life goes viral, 18 year old Zoe is overwhelmed and more than a little surprised by the response. But with a deadline for her next piece looming and a list of romantic contenders from the past, she is hoping that one of those old sparks will turn into a new flame. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Luke Miggs wants more than small town life: the grind of chores on the family farm, playing lacklustre footy, beers with mates. Like maybe doing something about his crush on Amanda Hunt, a barmaid at the local pub who's smart, funny and ambitious. Or maybe playing footy in the big league. At eighteen it can't be too late, can it? There's his place in the Curlews, at least, although the team's little more than a bunch of battlers who play for the beers afterwards. If only they could take their footy seriously, like the reigning champions, the Little Reach Scorpions, who have dominated the competition for ten years. By the looks of this season, nothing is going to change. But when Adam Pride emerges from the night and tells the Curlews he wants to play for them, everything begins to change. A story of friendship, family, and coming of age, and how the choices of our past can come back to shape our future.

A sequel to, The Barrumbi kids, in which a trip to Barrumbi changes everything. Dale is warned in a dream that his brother, Sean, is in danger. He doesn't know that what happens to Sean will have a devastating effect on the whole community. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Let's stand up and applaud the young Aussies who are using their voices and talents to change our world for the better. From soccer star Sam Kerr, conservationist Bindi Irwin, entertainer Jessica Mauboy to gender equality advocate Caitlin Figueiredo, this is a book about young people, for everyone. Through activism, innovation, giving back and leading by example, these inspirational young Australians are building a brighter tomorrow for us all. Brought to life by colourful portrait illustrations, from local artists, this book showcases emerging Aussie talent, motivates with inspirational praise and encourages readers to take action to create positive social change. The future is bright!

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

Fully illustrated, easy to follow and based on the latest medical science, StressLess is your go-to guide to identify and reduce your own stress and help others do the same. You will learn how to: Recognise the thinking patterns that lead to stress, Disentangle yourself from stressful activities, Relax using breathing, stretching, meditation and mindfulness, Do more with your time, Problem solve, and Nurture relationships. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Jamila has moved to Australia from her home in Iraq and has adapted well to life there and has made good friends. When she learns that her best friend, Mina, from Iraq will be coming to Australia, Jamila is very excited to introduce Mina to her Australian friends. However, when Mina arrives she is not quite ready to jump into the life Jamila has created. Jamila feels pressure to find a way to manage old friends and new friends and understand the sadness which Mina has taken with her from Iraq.

Anna Chiu has her hands pretty full looking after her brother and sister and helping out at her dad's restaurant, all while her mum stays in bed. Dad's new delivery boy, Rory, is a welcome distraction and even though she knows that things aren't right at home, she's starting to feel like she could just be a normal teen. But when Mum finally gets out of bed, things go from bad to worse. And as Mum's condition worsens, Anna and her family question everything they understand about themselves and each other. A nourishing tale about the crevices of culture, mental wellness and family.

Noah is in love with his online best friend. Which is a huge problem, for the following reasons- 1. His crush has no idea. 2. Noah only knows him as his gaming avatar. 3. There's zero chance they'll ever meet in real life. So, when Noah sees an opportunity to secretly meet his crush, he takes it. Even though he'll have to join the cast of a local production of Chicago with his self-obsessed mother. Even though he'll need to lie to his best (and only) friend. And even though he'll have to sing and dance in front of actual people. Because love is worth the risk. And, really, what could possibly go wrong? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The door creaks open and standing in the entrance is my absolute worst nightmare. Perfect hair, perfect teeth, perfect brain. Perfect sneer. Evelyn Tait. Taking Down Evelyn Tait is a story about family, friends and embracing who you are. Even if that person is kind of weird. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Lennie is leaving the security of life at home to attend a day school in Sydney. She is full of excitement but life outside her secure house with her younger sisters throws up all sorts of challenges, She finds a best friend in Mabel Jones, a fellow pupil and begins to develop her talents as a writer. A charming tale of life as a teenage girl in Sydney in the late 1800's.

Trapped in a cargo plane. High over the jungle. The DARE winners have no choice. They must jump! If they can get off the plane alive, and survive an attack by the remnants of Marco Bravo's army, the DARE winners will have to confront Felix Scott with all the evidence they have that he is The Signmaker. What will their enemy do if he's backed into a corner? From Bogota, Colombia, to Sydney, Australia, the DARE winners have to risk everything to get to the truth and stop The Signmaker's plan for world destruction-before time is up. But it's not just the clock that's against them... The tide is turning and they're about to face their most deadly challenge yet. If you could be a hero, would you DARE? Seven Signs. Two days left to save the world.

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.

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

Sixteen-year-old Sofie is a dreamer, an artist and a romantic. So when she goes on exchange to Paris, she is expecting magnificent adventures of the heart and mind. Yet France isn't what she imagined. Her host sister, Delphine and fellow artist Olivier show her a different side of Paris and Sofie starts to question her ideas of art, beauty and meaning. What can one girl do? Will Sofie be able to find the courage to fight for change?

Beck, short for Beethoven, is the son of world famous ex-pianist Ida Magdalena Keverich. A stroke has left her without the ability to play, and so she places all her hopes, expectations, and efforts into turning her son into a musical prodigy. To Beck this has meant a life of emotional and physical neglect. He has no fitting clothes and struggles to find food to feed his younger sister. Beck's mother, the maestro, has a violent temper and Beck often comes to school with bruises and other signs of injury. In meeting August, a girl from his school, who is in many ways his exact opposite, Beck learns that life and music do not have to entail the suffering he is used to. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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.

Lara is devastated over the loss of her mother and escapes to the hills to meet her only friend, a wild dog, called Thunderwith.

Wen Zhou is told she's lucky. Lucky to be living in Australia. Wen doesn't feel lucky when her dad doesn't let her go to birthday parties and controls everything she and her mum do. Her salvation is her close friend Henry. However when tragedy strikes Henry's family, how will Wen find a way to support him, whilst still achieving her own dreams.

A Magical story about a brave young chimney sweep and a majestic tiger. A story about a mesmerising ruby and a magical land across an ocean. A story about discovering your destiny and what it means to be free.

Rebecca Tobler 09/23 In the scorching summer of 2033, Gilbert Black is accused of being a firebug, just like his mother was thirteen years previously. That night a fire starts on his family's farm. A fire with a tunnel in the centre of it. And that's when things start to get really weird. Pulled repeatedly back and forth through time, Gil finds himself at all the big Australian bushfires from the last two centuries. He searches across the years, determined to unlock the secret to his family's legacy. Gil can't change the past, but can he learn from it in time to return home and save his family from the biggest inferno ever known.

Mia is an ordinary Tiwi girl living at Purnalli outstation with her family - her little tribe. When she tries to fit in with the wrong kids at school, she ends up suspended. Mia's nanna helps her see how to choose what's best for her future. What will the future bring for Mia?

It is 1942 and the world is at war. Sixteen year old Nancy Clancy is sent to Malaya to bring home her sister-in-law, Moira, and baby Gavin. Nancy's brother, Ben, is a soldier there. When Malaya is invaded, they are fortunate to escape but their ship is bombed, and they are stranded on an island where other colonial women are captured. The nightmare and horror of internment in a Japanese camp begins. Based on true events. Includes some violence and confronting tragedies.

Chimney sweep, Tom Appleby, eight, is convicted of stealing and deported to Botany Bay on The First Fleet. The country seems to have little to offer. Set between the harsh early Sydney life of 1788 and the 19th century impoverishment of 1868.

To find freedom, you must leave behind everything you've ever known. It is 2011. You want nothing more than to be a journalist in Somalia like your aunty. But the truth can be dangerous - and when you and your little sister are left alone, you find yourself facing life-and-death choices at every turn. Can you escape a terrorist organisation and find a safe place to call home? You'll be asked to cross a desert on foot, hide below deck in a leaky boat, and put your life in the hands of people smugglers. At every turn, the choice is yours. How far will you go for freedom?

After a catastrophic attempt to ask out his crush, Nelson is desperate for any chance to escape the daily humiliations of his small-town high school. And with his parents taking over a nearby ski lodge, that chance seems to have arrived. At the snow, Nelson discovers a whole new freedom in a world where nobody knows he's a loser. Now he can be whoever he wants to be... But reinvention is complicated, especially when a few white lies land Nelson in the middle of an unexpected love triangle and on a path towards certain embarrassment.

Spit, the barefoot grandson of old Fyfe, has other ideas for his future after his grandfather dies and the town wants Spit to go into an orphanage. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Sam Khoo has one goal in life: create cool indie games. She's willing to do anything to make her dream come true - even throw away a scholarship to university. All she needs is a super-rare ticket to a game design workshop and she can kickstart her career. So when Jay Chua, aka Jerky McJerkface, sneakily grabs the last ticket, it's war. Knowing how their Australian-Malaysian community works, Sam issues him an ultimatum: put the ticket on the line in a 1v1 competition of classic video games, or she'll broadcast his duplicity to everyone. Thank you, Asian Gossip Network. Meeting in neutral locations, away from the eyes and ears of nosy aunties and uncles, Sam and Jay connect despite themselves. It's a puzzle that Sam's not sure she wants to solve. But when her dream is under threat, will she discover that there is more than one way to win?

What if you were forced to set sail for a country that didn't want you, to meet a father you couldn't remember? Thirteen-year-old Fu, his younger sister, Pei, and their mother live in a small rural community in Southern China that is already enduring harsh conditions when it is collectivised as part of Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward campaign that ultimately led to economic disaster, widespread famine and millions of deaths. After tragedy strikes, and threatened with separation, Fu and Pei set out on a perilous journey across countries and oceans to find their father, who left for Australia almost a decade ago. With nothing to guide them but a photograph and some documents in a language they cannot read, they must draw on all their courage and tenacity just to survive - and perhaps forge a better life for themselves.

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

In Broome, a small pearling town in the heart of an ancient land, Ubby, a smart, street-wise Aboriginal girl, is the leader of a rag-tag gang, known as the Underdogs. The gang's efforts to locate Sai Fong, the Dragon Summoner, have been halted by the ambitious pearling master, Paul Donappleton. Old myths and smoky legends from an ancient scroll begin to take on new meaning and it becomes a race to unravel the truth.

It is the late 1940s and Broome, a small pearling town in the heart of an ancient land, is still recovering from WWII. Ubby and her gang of Underdogs cross into the Forbidden Zone on the Broome coastline in a desperate bid to locate their missing friend Sai Fong who has disappeared without a trace. What they encounter is worse than anything they could ever have imagined. To survive, the Underdogs must call upon the local gangs to unite, solve the mystery of the Dragon Summoner, and make contact with the mysterious Phoenix Dragon to fight the battle of all battles against an evil and unearthly enemy. What is at stake is the future of humanity itself. The third and final installment in the Ubby's Underdogs graphic novel series.

In Broome in the 1940s, the pearling town is recovering from World War II. Ubby, a street-wise Aboriginal girl, leads a rag-tag gang known as the Underdogs. When Ubby recruits Sai Fong, a Chinese girl off the boat from Shanghai, they are thrown into a series of bizarre adventures full of myths and legends, and secrets never before exposed.

Robert Hoge was born with a giant tumor on his forehead, severly distorted facial features, and legs that were twisted and useless. His mother was so horrified she initially refused to look at her son, let alone bring him home. But home he went, to a life that was, against all odds, filled with joy, optimism, and general boyhood naughtiness. Ugly is Robert's account of his life, from his birth to the arrival of his own daughter. It's a story of an extraordinary person living an ordinary life, which given the incredible hardships he had to overcome, is possibly his greatest achievement of all. Usually read by students in year 9, 10 and above.

It's 1965, and an old Tattersalls barrel starts rolling marbles to randomly conscript young Australian men to fight in the war in Vietnam. Melbourne housewife Jean McLean is outraged, as are her artist friends Clif and Marlene Pugh, who live in the country with their wombat, Hooper. Determined to wreck the system, Jean forms the Save Our Sons movement's Victorian branch, and she and her supporters take to the streets to protest. Meanwhile, in the small country town of Katunga, Bill Cantwell joins the Australian Army, and in Saigon, young Mai Ho is writing letters to South Vietnamese soldiers from her school desk. And when Hooper's call-up papers arrive, he mysteriously goes underground... Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

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

Unnecessary Drama is a funny and romantic coming-of-age story set in a student share house in Melbourne. The story focuses on Brooke's initial experiences living out of home while starting her first year of university. Rule-oriented and organised, Brooke is ready for anything, until she discovers her second housemate is really her friend-turned-enemy from high school, Jesse. She vows to ignore him. However, dealing with anxieties, mishaps and the unexpected complications of life might make this promise harder to keep than she thought. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Four teenagers who are all born on the same Valentine's Day begin to disappear. As the bodies mount up, Pearl Linford has to work out what is happening before it happens to her. Finn Blacklin also shares a Valentines birthday and is the sworn enemy of Pearl. Finn is also the Valentine and a Seelie fairy changeling swapped for a human boy at birth. The Unseelie have come to kill the Valentine but they do not know who it is. Pearl must use all her wits to protect herself. Finn must come to terms with his newfound heritage. There is explosive chemistry too between them that must be dealt with.

Meet the brave young women from tales of yore...Vasilisa who must try to outwit the fearsome witch Baba-Yaga. Katie Crackernuts who sets out to save her sister from dark magic. Flora, the gardener's daughter, who marries a giant serpent to save a prince. Fairer-Than-A-Fairy, a princess who is kidnapped by an evil one-eyed enchantress. Lullala, in love with a prince cursed to be a lion by day and a man by night. Rosemary, a Scottish lass whose baby is stolen by the wicked faery folk of the Sidhe. Ursula, a princess replaced by a walking, talking automaton.These are not your usual passive princess, waiting forlornly for their prince to come.

After the death of his parents, Rick goes to live with his cousins in the outback. He finds it very hard to adjust and his cousins have difficulty relating to his grief. A dangerous adventure changes everything. Some strong language in context.

In 1894, twelve year old Matilda flees the city slums to find her unknown father and his farm. But, drought grips the land and the shearers are on strike. Her father has turned swaggie and he's wanted by the troopers. This is the story of one girl's journey towards independence. It is also the story of others who had no vote and very little but their dreams.

Dad is finally on his way home from The Great War. Everyone, especially Mum, is excited and full of plans for the homecoming and the future. Twelve year old Nell barely remembers Dad but when Spanish Influenza hits Perth, delaying his return, Nell begins to understand the gap in the family his absence has created.

Jaime lives in Dalton's Bay with Aunty Dawn and Uncle Bobby. He spends his downtime hanging out with his mates, Dally and Lenny. Jamie's just an Aboriginal kid trying to find his way, but Mark Cassidy and the while lads take every opportunity they can to bully him and his friends. One night, Jamie, Dally and Lenny decide to retaliate...but things don't go as planned and the consequences are devastating. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above. Can Jaime mend his relationships with himself, his friends, his family, and his future?

Seventeen-year-old Priscilla Daalma's entire family are Hollow Warriors - legendary monster hunters charged with killing evil beasts from beyond our universe. She's desperate to live up to that legacy, but she's convinced neither she, nor her superpower - the ability to sense Hollow energy - is up to the task. But when Priscilla attempts a desperate ritual to enhance her abilities, she accidentally triggers a frightening new power: the power to summon monsters from the Hollow itself. Now, Priscilla must protect her loved ones from supernatural monsters, and also from herself. Because if her power gets out, all hell will break loose ... and Priscilla will risk losing everything. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, and above.

Sixteen-year-old Jamie lives with his mum and his younger brother Oscar, who has Down syndrome. Though Jamie is still grieving the loss of his dad, life starts to look up when he meets Zara, the new girl at school. When their mum goes away for the weekend, Jamie volunteers to look after Oscar. But when the weekend is over and their mother doesn't return, Jamie faces the toughest challenge of his life.

Written by one of Australia's most prominent Indigenous voices, Welcome to Country is essential reading for every young Australian. The chapters cover prehistory, post-colonial history, language, kinship, knowledge, art, performance, storytelling, native title, the Stolen Generations, making a rightful place for First Australians and looking to the future for Indigenous Australia. This book is for the new Australian generations and works towards rectifying the wrongs of this country's past. You will quickly appreciate how lucky we are to be the home of the world's oldest continuing civilisation -- which is both diverse and thriving in Australia today.

When Michael meets Mina, they are at a rally for refugees, standing on opposite sides. Mina fled Afghanistan with her mother, via a refugee camp, a leaky boat and a detention centre. Michael's parents have founded a new political party called Aussie Values. They want to stop the boats. Mina wants to stop the hate. Michael and Mina will need to overcome their differences to find some common ground. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Lissa finds herself without her best friend, with a brother who is talking less and less to her, on the outside of a friendship group she is not so sure she wants to be in, and without her mum who is spending more and more time with a new boyfriend. One winter night a stranger shows up with a baby in his arms and asking all sorts of questions about a part of Lissa's life she knows nothing about. It is only as people come together that any sense can be made of the situation and crisises averted.

When Madeleine is shipped off to stay with her eccentric grandmother for the holidays, she expects the usual: politics, early-morning yoga, extreme healthy food, and lots of hard work. Instead, Madeleine tumbles back in time to 1900, where the wealthy Williamson family takes her into their home, Lyrebird Muse. At a time when young girls have no power and no voice, set against a backdrop of the struggles for emancipation, federation and Aboriginal rights, Madeleine must find a way to fit in with the Williamson family's four sisters - beautiful, cold Bea; clever, awkward Gert; adventurous, rebellious Charlie; and darling baby Imo - as she searches desperately for a way home. Meanwhile, the Williamson girls' enchanting German cousin, Elfriede, arrives on the scene on a heavenly wave of smoke and cinnamon, and threatens to shatter everything... Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Lucy, Fin and Max have survived the missile attacks which have devastated Australia and its population, now they are fleeing Sydney on the promise of safety in a compound with people who will shelter and protect them. Not long after their arrival they find their safety may come at a price they are not willing to pay...It soon becomes evident that missiles and starvation aren't the only threats to their survival. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Dan and his brother, Eddie, take off for the coast, in search of their lost mother, in search of a better life. But, it's a long road they face and Dan must use all his wits to get them there in one piece. When they are taken under the wing of a group of would-be soldiers, marching over the mountains to join up for the Great War, Dan and Eddie's journey becomes something quite unexpected.

A collection of short stories by the 2012 finalists of The Sydney Morning Herald Young Writer competition.

Anna has high expectations for herself and her future. She is hardworking and focussed, but while she would like life outside of studying to stay in the shadows, her family's dark history summons her to the country and to the grandparents she has never met. Anna discovers secrets she never knew existed and answers to questions she never thought to ask. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

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

Finn, Kas, and Willow have survived the winter. Severe winds and cold have kept the Wilders at bay. Now that spring has come, everything has changed. They're being hunted again, and they won't be safe while the brutal Ramage wants their blood. But Finn and Kas made a promise to Rose - to find her baby, Hope, and bring her back...but finding Hope, means finding Ramage...and Finn will face the toughest decision of his live. Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 and above.

Exploding oil wells. Millions of cars out of control. Two DARE winners in mortal danger. After Andy and Dylan are caught in a fiery explosion, Zander, JJ, Yasmin, Mila and Isabel realise their only chance to stop the next attack is to get one step ahead of The Signmaker. But the evil mastermind is far from their only problem, with the DARE winners now on the run from police, government agents and sinister suited thugs. Nowhere is safe. No-one can be trusted. Can they stay free long enough to decode the Third Sign, stop the next attack and reveal The Signmaker's true identity? If you could be a hero, would you DARE? Seven Signs . Five days left to save the world.

When hatred opens the homestead gates and the enemy is so close to home, do you fear the fall, or find courage to fly? A heritage listed home in the Riverina is up for grabs and Isabella's Mum falls hopelessly in love. Yet it seems the new immigrant family who come to pick oranges at the orchard become a target for intolerance. But when Isabella's brother Abel takes leave from the Army barracks to disappear without a trace, the family's tree change plummets them into their worst fears. As the hours march irrevocably on, hope is the only weapon they possess, as each of them learn that a hero is made, not born. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Throughout the first century or more of Australian settlement by Europeans, the pages of colonial newspapers were haunted by reports of a bewildering phenomenon: the mysterious yahoo or hairy man...

This book contains amazing tips, tricks, and strategies to gently encourage and explain how to rise above and find hope and support when things are tough. Feel lighter and optimistic about the future, and more confident, empowered, and inspired to live a happy and healthy life.

With her long skirt and headscarf Layla certainly stands out at her new high school. Everyone thinks they know her, just from a glance. But do they? And does Layla really know herself? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, and above

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