Booklists

In the first half of the nineteenth century, seventy-three thousand convicts were transported to the British penal colony of Van Diemen's Land. This is an enthralling journey through the personal histories and daily lives of the men, women and children who played a vital role in the building of the settlements, as well as the running of the newly established colony.

Beneath the earth, a malignant force lies waiting, greedy for freedom from its ancient prison. As the Old Kingdom falls once more into a realm of darkness and terror, the people look desperately to the Abhorsen, the scourge of the Dead, to save them. Yet Abhorsen Sabriel is lost, missing in Ancelstierre.Only Lirael has any chance of stopping the Destroyer. Final book in the Old Kingdom trilogy.

Dylan Alcott has never let his disability get in the way of what he wanted to achieve. His family treated him no differently to any other kid, and it was the best thing they ever did. Growing up, Dylan always had a positive attitude to life. So when he discovered sport, he'd have a go at anything and could always be found at the centre of the action, giving his best and playing to win. Then he tried wheelchair basketball and tennis and was hooked. Fast forward ten years or so, and the now three-time Paralympic gold medallist, Order of Australia recipient, world No 1 tennis champion, Logie winner and philanthropist combines elite sport with a love for music. But Dylan's greatest passion is changing the way those with disabilities are perceived, and to inspire young people - whether they have disabilities or are able-bodied - to achieve their dreams. It's a passion that drives him every day of his life. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Anna is afraid she must be unlovable until she meets Flynn. Together, the girls swim, eat banana cake, laugh and love. Some days, Flynn is unreachable. On other days, she's at Anna's door. When Anna discovers Flynn's secret, she wonders if she knows her at all. Includes mature themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Abraham Lincoln is fondly remembered as an American President with an unwavering sense of justice and willingness to fight for his beliefs. Follow Lincoln's journey from humble beginnings as a poor Illinois rail splitter to his election as America's 16th President, and into the dark days of the Civil War leading to his tragic assassination.

Colin has an IQ around 200 and no social skills and Hassan understands people and social etiquette stuff so their friendship is the perfect balance. When the nineteenth of Colin's girlfriends (all called Katherine) breaks up with him, the boys decide a road trip is in order. When they end up in Gutshot, Tennessee, they meet a mother and daughter who provide all of the necessary ingredients for some problem solving to occur.

Enne Salta is a naive young lady with strengths yet to be revealed. Lost and alone in a new city which is rife with criminal gangs and corruption, Enne is in a desperate search for her lost mother. Along the way she finds out incredible truths about her mother and her family background, whilst discovering untold strengths. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

A collection of thirteen short stories providing an eclectic mix of Garth Nix's writing spanning several years. Included are an Old Kingdom story, an Arthurian legend, a war story, a western, a traditional tale with a twist and a very funny, choose-your-own-adventure spoof.

In 1960 England, Isabella is forced to flee her home when her father's strong opinions lead to take a stand against the army. She takes refuge in Amsterdam with an elderly printer, who is brave enough to print topics which stir religious intolerance. This results in a dangerous journey to help him escape certain death for his books.

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

A classic story of slavery and a runaway boy's exploits. Huckleberry Finn had a tough life with his drunken father until an adventure with Tom Sawyer changed everything. When Huck's dad returns and kidnaps him, he must escape down the Mississippi River with a runaway slave, Jim. They face trouble at every turn, from floods and gunfights to armed bandits and the long arm of the law. Through it all, the friends stick together.

Out of his smoke-filled rooms in Baker Street stalks a figure who causes criminals to quake in their boots and rush from their dens of iniquity. This collection of twelve mysteries reveals the clever mind of the brilliant consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, as he works with his sidekick, Dr Watson.

Roderick doesn't want to be a knight. When Queen Emily sends her knights on a grand quest, Sir Roderick wants to stay behind. Reluctantly, he ventures forth beyond the Forest of Gilderang (filled with fearsome creatures) to the Circle of Mountains, home to giant cockroaches. En route, he meets an invisible girl, a talking bear and the most famous sorcerer in the land.

On the banks of the Mississippi, Tom Sawyer and his friends seek out adventure at every turn. One fateful night, they witness a murder and the boys swear never to reveal their secret. They run away to be pirates and search for hidden treasure. But, Tom gets trapped in a cave with the murderer.

Nazis are still invading Poland and Felix joins a group of partisans who are targeting the Nazis troops. Felix becomes the doctor's assistant, until he is left to fend for himself, at the same time as becoming a surrogate parents to both Jewish and German young children.

CJ was one of the popular, cool kids at his old school. Now, everything has changed. He is known as Callum, banished to the country to live with grandparents he has never met and who don't seem to want him there. Things are no better at school but worse still is the secret that Callum carries with him night and day.

School is over for Alex Delaney and he's waiting for his tertiary offer which is only seventeen days away. The waiting is killing him. He's not expecting much from January, just bodysurfing and TV, but mainly waiting. So, he's not ready for the girl who cuts past him on a wave. January is about to change.

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

Benjamin and Janie are trying to live a safe, normal life in America. But, they have the power to prevent nuclear disaster and sinister forces are circling. The advice of a mysterious, unscrupulous magician propels them into danger and towards the land of the dead. When their friend, Jin Lo, washes up on a remote island and finds herself on the trail of a deadly threat in China, they must somehow reach her to help.

Since her parents died, Sophie Teague's life has fallen apart. She's just enrolled at a new high school, hoping for a fresh start. But, Eve, a beautiful ghost, starts making terrifying nightly appearances, wanting Sophie to be her hands, eyes and go-to girl to tie up loose ends. Dealing with the dead might just involve the greatest sacrifice of all. Dark, thrilling and unrelentingly eerie. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

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

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.

Welcome to Castle Cove - a town cursed with missing girls, bad boyfriends, family secrets and some very steep cliffs. Last summer, Alice Ogilvie's basketball-star boyfriends Steve dumped her. Then she disappeared fro five days. Where she went and what happened to her is the biggest mystery in Castle Cove. Or at least it was. Because now, another one of Steve's girlfriends has vanished: Brooke Donovan, Alice's ex-best friend. And it doesn't look like Brooke will be coming back... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Fifteen year old Matt works as a cabin boy aboard the Aurora,a luxury airship that is part passenger cruise ship. When wealthy Kate and her chaperone come aboard, Matt discovers that she is determined to prove her grandfather's claims that he saw strange creatures flying in the sky in the area the year before. His diary describes them as huge, furry beasts with batlike wings and sharp claws. A storm forces the damaged Aurora to set down on a seemingly deserted island.

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

Conor Broekhart was born to fly. In an age when many dreamed of flying, it became his destiny. When a cruel and cunning betrayal destroys his family, Conor must win the race for flight to save his family and right a terrible wrong.

John and Philippa discover they have super-human powers as young djinn. Mum sends them off to urbane, snobby Uncle Nimrod to learn their full powers in exotic Egypt. This places them in extreme danger. Incidental strong language in context.

Moose Flanagan lives with his family on Alcatraz, a high security prison housing the notorious Al Capone, in the 1930s. His friend's plan to make money out of this backfires with serious consequences. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

Matthew (Moose) Flanagan lives on the island of Alcatraz. His father is one of the guards. His older sister, Natalie, is autistic and, in an effort to protect her, Moose now owes prisoner 85, Al Capone, who has managed to secure her a place at a special school. The price Moose might have to pay reveals itself quite spectacularly.

In Alanna the first adventure, Alanna wants to become the first female knight so she poses as a boy and takes her place among the pages at the palace.

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

This fascinating biography details the life and achievements of Albert Einstein, a scientist and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of physics. Einstein's famous Theory of Relativity changed the world's understanding of space and created a whole new kind of science to study cosmology.

Albert Einstein's name is synonymous with genius. He revolutionised the way we understand the universe and paved the way for diverse technology such as lasers, cell phones, electron microscopes and DVD players. Follow Einstein's journey from his childhood through to his groundbreaking writings that won him the Nobel Prize.

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

As battle cries of the American Revolution echo in the distance, servants flutter about preparing for one of New York society's biggest events: the Schuylers' grand ball. Eliza can barely contain her excitement when she hears of the arrival of one Alexander Hamilton, a mysterious young colonel and General George Washington's right-hand man. When Alex and Eliza meet that fateful night, so begins an epic love story that would forever change the course of American history. A fictionalised version of what might have been, featuring figures from the Tony winning Broadway musical.

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

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

Alexander is a Jewish boy during World War II and is being held in a camp. To survive, he toughens up and vows to make friends with nobody. He is given the job of caring for the soldiers' horses, where he is ordered to break in the commander's new horse, who is scared and damaged. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Inspired by his nearly-deaf mother and a father who developed a 'visible alphabet' of all the possible sounds a human can make, Alexander Graham Bell spent most of his life trying to improve the way people communicated. His most famous invention, the telephone, has made him one of the most well-known names of all time.

Jake helps her new step-sister and step-brother to protect an alien from another dimension.

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?

The life of an English country vet is revealed in the funny and sad situations that James Herriot finds on his rounds.

After her mother's death, Grace is sent to live with her grandfather, a powerful United States Ambassador. Grace believes her mother was murdered and that, one day, she will find the killer and make him pay. But, nobody believes her so there's no one she can completely trust. Not her grandfather or her new friends on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Christobel, fourteen and heiress to a fortune, is bored and lonely until she decides to dress as a boy and rescue her servant's son who has been kidnapped. It becomes a dangerous game set in the crime and disease-ridden slums of The Rocks.

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.

A collection of interlinked stories set in the late 1940s in an Australian country town which focus on the four young Melling sisters. Each story links the girls and their friends together in a variety of domestic events and problems. The stories present a nostalgic feel for the post-war years. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Maeve Chambers does not have any special gifts. That is, until she finds a dusty old pack of tarot cards. She finds herself able to give readings with uncanny accuracy. When she reads for an ex-friend, a strange card appears and begins a series of events that ensure Maeve faces her inner demons and a power much older and more powerful than even the cards have proven to be.

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.

James is living his post-apocalyptic life in a well stocked cabin in the woods. He is more prepared than most, but, like many, has not come to terms with the loss of loved ones. Andrew shows up badly injured at his door after getting caught in a bear trap, and James feels obliged to help him. Their two stories become entwined as they must leave the comfortable cabin to go on a dangerous journey south, encountering pockets of people rebuilding society in ways which sometimes proves deadly. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

For Marie-Laure, blind since the age of six, the world is full of mazes. The miniature of a Paris neighbourhood, made by her father to teach her the way home. The microscopic layers within the invaluable diamond that her father guards in the Museum of Natural History. The walled city by the sea, where father and daughter take refuge when the Nazis invade Paris. And a future which draws her ever closer to Werner, a German orphan, destined to labour in the mines until a broken radio fills his life with possibility and brings him to the notice of the Hitler Youth. In this magnificent, deeply moving novel, the stories of Marie-Laure and Werner illuminate the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

In the Kingdom of Visidia, each island has its own unique form of magic. As princess of Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her whole life learning to control the ruling family's dangerous soul magic. Amora is determined to rule fairly and justly, and grows frustrated as her father, the King of Visidia, continues to exclude her from the politics of her future kingdom. She has also spent her entire life preparing for the performance of soul magic that will prove her suitability to rule. But on the night of her performance, Amora loses control of her soul magic and is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with a mysterious pirate, who promises to help her in exchange for Amora's assistance reclaiming his stolen magic. As Amora travels the seas, she learns things in her kingdom are not quite what they seem to be, and it's not just her crown that is in danger, but her entire kingdom. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Samira wants to do well, her parents want her to do well, her teachers want her to do well, but the pressure is starting to tell. Can her friends rescue her when it all gets too much? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

All Arkie knows is that things are changing, the vacant block of land is being built on and everyone is talking about going to high school.

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

Emelina Flores and her sister, Olivia, were determined to bring peace to the people of Ruina. But as the war for liberation raged on, what triumph and freedom meant to Em and Olivia slowly changed. As Olivia's violence and thirst for vengeance became her only ambition, Em was left to pick up the pieces. But it's not only Em who is upset by Olivia's increased violence. Other members of the Ruined army are beginning to see the cracks, and soon a small group of them defects from Olivia's army and joins Em instead. The two sisters are soon pitted against each other in an epic battle for the kingdom and the future, and only one will win. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

It's fifteen years since readers were first introduced to Felix in Once and across six celebrated books, our brave young hero has survived many unforgettable and emotional journeys. Now comes the seventh and final part of Felix's story, bringing to a powerful climax a series that countless young readers around the world will remember - Always.

Lara Jean is having the best senior year. And there's still so much to look forward to: a class trip to New York City, prom with her boyfriend Peter, Beach Week after graduation, and her dad's wedding to Ms. Rothschild. Then she'll be off to college with Peter, at a school close enough for her to come home and bake chocolate chip cookies on the weekends. Life couldn't be more perfect! At least, that's what Lara Jean thinks... until she gets some unexpected news. Now the girl who dreads change must rethink all her plans -- but when your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

A collection of ten, strange stories, including one about a person who swam so much, he grew fins.

Edie is a little bit different. She has a disability called cerebral palsy, so she talks slowly and falls over a lot. Edie is Excited with a capital E to star secondary school with best friend Oscar who is the fish to her chips or the banana to her custard. So, when they are put in different classes and Oscar makes new friends, Edie is devastated. But her shaky world is about to change. Edie gets an unusual part in the school play which sets off a series of events that change her life forever. Following her dreams to become an actress will result in a year that is Amazing with a capital A.

Australia's early explorers were an odd bunch. Some were incredibly brave, others extremely foolhardy. Some formed friendships with Aborigines and respected their rights and traditions, others treated them very badly. Some gained fame and fortune, others lost their lives. All had a thirst for discovery.

Australia is home to both an ancient, Indigenous culture and a young European influence. While their coexistence has been far from peaceful, both groups have proven to be tenacious, resourceful and resilient. Australia is the only country founded solely to contain convicts.

Australia is one of the best places to watch the unique bird families that share our natural and urban environments. Find out how they evolved, how they survive and adapt in the face of human progress, and how they interact with each other.

Australia has unique, ancient landscapes, plants and animals. Humans have not always realised how incredible the natural wealth is and have exploited the environments, greatly affecting the flora and fauna. Australia has one of the worst extinction rates in the world but it's not too late to save our wild places.

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.

Maurice the cat and his friends, a motley group of rats, have gained super intelligence overnight and quickly start scamming human villages with a Pied Piper of Hamelin ruse.

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

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

In the third of the Dark Materials trilogy, Lyra and Will, whose fates are bound together, are separated. They must find each other for ahead of them lies the greatest war that has ever been. This text includes representations that may be contrary to some religious beliefs.

Amelia Earhart's sense of daring was evident from a very young age. She knew the risks of flying but was eager to promote women's abilities and to contribute to the world around her. She became the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic. Her sudden disappearance over the Pacific remains one of aviation's most haunting, unsolved mysteries.

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.

When Jin Wang starts at a new school, he's the only Chinese-American student. He just wants to be an all-American boy. Danny is popular and great at basketball but his obnoxious Chinese cousin's annual visits are a disaster, ruining his reputation at school. The Monkey King is the most powerful monkey on earth and his story is one of the greatest Chinese fables.These three apparently unrelated characters come together with an unexpected twist. Graphic novel. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An anthology covering a wide range of human experiences.

Among Believers explores the richness and diversity of the world's mainstream religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Sikhism. More than 350 remarkable photographs document worship and the rites of passage rooted in a country's culture, religious festivals, feasts and fasts, meditation, education, sacred foods and places of pilgrimage.

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

Bold, secretive and utterly uncompromising, renowned Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen will stop at nothing to execute his latest plan - to be the first to reach the southernmost point on the globe. Haunted by the prospect of his rival Captain Scott scooping the prize, Amundsen pushes himself and his men beyond the bounds of human experience and ever deeper into the Antarctic unknown. Can Amundsen count on the loyalty of his men to the very end? How will history view Roald Amundsen?

Beginning in 1490, Anacaona keeps a record of her life as a possible successor to the supreme chief of Xaragua, as wife of the chief of Maguana and as a warrior battling the first white men to arrive in the West Indies, ravenous for gold.

A novel in diary form in which the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II describes the privileged life her family led up until the time of World War I and the tragic events that befell them.

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

When Zelder translates three ancient spells she becomes the target of the sinister swordsman called the stalker. She and her brother, would-be swordsman Corram, must cheat death to stop the whole world being destroyed.

Eric Bogle's famous but depressing anti-war song about the Battle of Gallipoli was written in 1971, inspired by the Vietnam War and the lukewarm response of the Australian public to the returning soldiers. It explores the futility of war with haunting power. The accompanying illustrations are graphic and certainly do not glorify war. A timely story for every generation.

"Call me Bathsheba." The whales of Bathsheba's pod live for the hunt. Led by the formidable Captain Alexandra, they fight a never-ending war against men. Then the whales attack a man ship, and instead of easy prey they find the trail of a myth, a monster, perhaps the devil himself... With their relentless Captain leading the chase, they embark on the final hunt, one that will forever change the worlds of whales and men.

In Quentaris, a beautiful, young man is saved from attack by Eely who everyone thinks is unattractive and simple-minded. The young man has lost something and Eely helps him find it and begins to realise the importance of inner beauty.

The icon-maker and angel-summoner Liliath, long believed dead, has woken from her century long sleep to pick up the threads of a plan that has already destroyed one kingdom and may yet destroy another. To succeed, Liliath must bring together Agnez the musketeer, Simeon the doctor, Dorotea the mage, and Henri, one of the Cardinal's clerks...and take them into utmost danger. Set in an alternative seventeenth century where angels can be summoned to do the bidding of those with a talent for magic, Angel Mage is an action-packed story of angels, heroes, gunpowder and high magic. Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 and above.

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

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.

Angela is the angelic twin and Diabola is the opposite, a pair of twins who can drive their normal parents, the Cuthbertson-Joneses, to distraction. Angela is perfect but, that Diabola, she could just be wicked or she may be a genius.

Mary and her sister, Jane, always longed to be carried off by a handsome poet. The reality of life with Percy Shelley and Lord Byron is a combination of romance and tragedy. Adult themes around their liberated behaviour may offend some readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Giovanna's father is the Jester in Duke Ubertini's palace. When, at the Duke's insistence, Giovanna's dad performs a new play, a play in which he mocks the Prince of the neighbouring land, he sets in motion a series of events that puts the lives of Giovanna and her new friend, Raffaele, in grave danger. In this alternate reality Renaissance Italy, we learn that words have a powerful and long-lasting impact.

Menace and mystery lie in wait for Anila Tandy who secures a job drawing birds for an English naturalist, travelling on a river boat up the Ganges River. Anila will use this journey to search for her father, missing for years and presumed dead. Anila must test herself in the man's world of India, in the late 1700s.

In the by the Numbers series, we dive deep into the world of animals and insects. From the smallest known species of snake to the sleepiest mammals, Animal Facts By the Numbers provides readers of all ages with the ultimate animal trivia knowledge.

A classic allegory in which the animals take over Manor Farm from their drunken master and all seems to be perfect as everyone is equal under the Seven Commandments. Circumstances change as the pigs become more equal than the others. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Short stories about animals involved in Australian armed conflicts, from WWI to more recent times. The animals display bravery under fire, mateship and loyalty, the same attributes shown by the ANZACs.

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

In 1901, Robert Scott made his first trip to Antarctica. This is the incredible story of Scott's adventures and the animals he saw along the way.

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

As life for German Jews becomes ever more dangerous, Anna's parents make the desperate decision to send her to England. But the war follows her to Kent, and soon Anna finds herself caught up in a web of secrecy and betrayal. How can she prove whose side she's on when she can't tell anyone the truth? But actions speak louder than words, and Anna has a risky plan.

A colourful, engaging picture book containing a collection of poems about living in an Aboriginal community.

Anne Frank is a young Jewish girl in Germany when Adolf Hitler rose to power and began his program to eradicate Jewish people. Anne and her family are forced to take refuge in a small annexe for two years.

Life for Jonah and Manx means fishing for mullet at the lake, watching their school mates party on Friday night and wishing they had the courage to talk to Ella and Rachel. But, their lakeside town is being sold off and, now, life doesn't seem so simple. Manx holds a grudge against the wealthy blow-ins from the city and Jonah just wants his parents to stop arguing. One memorable night at the lake will change everything. A verse novel.

A strange assortment of misfits and losers live at number 33. Runaway Sam has disappeared there, Bohemia's mum is between boyfriends again and Old Isabel acts like she owns the place. The owner, Sleezy Steve, is always trying to squeeze in one more tenant. Maybe their concern for Bohemia, the most caring of them all, can teach these people to care. Strong language used in context and adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Antonio lives with his parents in the tower of an old house. In the same area lives a recluse actor called Theodore Guzman. Antonio draws him out by presenting a play. In turn, Guzman leads Antonio into the magical world of theatre.

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.

Siki rises to the rare position of girl-warrior in an Apache tribe. She witnesses the horrors of the Indian wars against the Mexicans and the invading White Eyes. A sometimes violent and very honest story of courage, integrity, betrayal, love, hope and despair as Siki struggles to belong and learns the truth of her own story. 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.

In 1952, after her parents are identified as communists, Janie must move from Los Angeles to the safety of London. The war has ended but it's a tense time, and Janie is uncomfortable at her new school. She notices Benjamin, a curiously defiant boy, who dreams of becoming a spy. When his father, an apothecary, is kidnapped, Benjamin and Janie are embroiled in a plot involving real espionage and nuclear threats.

Oscar Dunleavy, who used to make the world's most perfect apple tarts, is missing, presumed dead. No one seems too surprised, except for Meg, his best friend, and his little brother Stevie. Surrounded by grief and confusion, Meg and Stevie are determined to find out what happened to Oscar, and together they learn about loyalty and friendship and the power of never giving up hope.

It's two years since Janie Scott last saw Benjamin Burrows, the mysterious apothecary's defiant son who stole her heart. Benjamin has been experimenting with a new formula, allowing him to communicate with Janie across the globe. When a mystery threatens them all, Janie, Benjamin and their friend, Pip, are thrown into a desperate chase around the world to find one another, while trying to unravel the mystery.

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.

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

Georgia and Julius meet in an adolescent mental health unit and in a flashback format we gradually find out about the events that led them to both be there. This novel explores highly believable political events in London and Nigeria and explores how Georgia and Julius both ended up in way deeper than they liked. This story is focused on social media and how its impact influences us all. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Nineteen-year-old twins, Justine and Perry, embark on a holiday to North America. Perry has a brain condition that can cause him to become distressed and behave in inappropriate ways, and after the death of their father, Justine has become his sole carer. This trip will mark a shift in their relationship, towards independence, and an opportunity for their absent mother to atone for past mistakes.

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.

Margaret Simon, almost twelve, likes long hair, tuna fish, the smell of rain, and things that are pink. She's just moved from New York City to Farbook, New Jersey, and is anxious to fit in with her new friends -- Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. When they form a secret club to talk about private subjects like boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret is happy to belong. But none of them can believe Margaret doesn't have religion, and that she isn't going to the Y or the Jewish Community Center. What they don't know is Margaret has her own very special relationship with God. She can talk to God about everything -- family, friends, even Moose Freed, her secret crush. Margaret is funny and real, and her thoughts and feelings are oh-so-relatable -- you'll feel like she's talking right to you, sharing her secrets with a friend.

Jessica has been accepted to star in a YouTube reality program where one day a week, she is filmed from wake up until midnight. She and four other applicants are chosen and allocated their days, Monday-Friday. Jess is the Monday star. Her 'hook' is that her mother was the first of 13 women murdered by a serial killer dubbed the The Magpie Man and Jess has vowed to catch him. This show is just the exposure she needs.

Ariel's writer mother sends misbehaving characters to an island school for Rebellious Characters. This summer, she sends Ariel and Zed. A cast of eccentric characters includes an insomniac Sleeping Beauty. A tale of action and self-discovery.

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

Alex Rider is in hospital, recovering from a rifle shot that had been aimed at his heart. The complications begin when a fellow patient is targeted for an abduction.

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

One evening, while relaxing at his gentleman's club, Phileas Fogg rashly bets that he can travel the entire globe in 80 days. The unflappable Englishman is determined not to lose this extraordinary wager as he sets off for Dover with his not so cool-headed, French manservant, Passepartout.

The Arrival gives us great insight into the process of leaving your homeland and trying to find a new place in the world. The journey can be frightening, inspiring and emotional for all displaced persons. Many stories are told through Tan's illustrations.

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.

A look at some of the traditions from which Indigenous art has come, with an emphasis on the continuous links between Indigenous art, place and The Dreaming. It shows the extraordinary diversity that has always been a feature of Australian Indigenous art.

Villainous twelve year old, Artemis Fowl, holds a leprechaun to ransom and gets more than he bargained for.

Artemis has frequently used high-tech fairy magic to mastermind the most devious criminal activity of the new century. Now, at a conference in Iceland, Artemis has gathered the fairies to present his latest idea to save the world from global warming. But Artemis is behaving strangely - he seems different. Something terrible has happened to him.

Is this armageddon time for artemis fowl . . . Opal Koboi, power-crazed pixie, is plotting to exterminate mankind and become fairy queen. If she succeeds, the spirits of long-dead fairy warriors will rise from the earth, inhabit the nearest available bodies and wreak mass destruction. But what happens if those nearest bodies include crows, or deer, or badgers - or two curious little boys by the names of Myles and Beckett Fowl? Yes, it's true. Criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl's four-year-old brothers could be involved in destroying the human race. Can Artemis and Captain Holly Short of the Lower Elements Police stop Opal and prevent the end of the world?

From an island stuck in time comes an army of vindictive imps bent on destroying humans. Teenage genius, Artemis Fowl, must stop the demons who have sworn revenge on humans. He uses his wit and sarcasm in this tale of murder and deceit.

Artemis Fowl, that magnet for trouble, with fairy ally, Captain Holly Short, by his side must successfully complete this mission to save his gravely ill mother. He must travel back through time and steal the cure from the clutches of a young criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl. It will take all Artemis' ingenuity to foil himself.

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

In this sequel, Artemus embarks on a daring plan to fight the Lower Elements and to rescue his father.

Artemis Fowl has always resented going to school, preferring instead to plot his next crime. So when the young criminal genius learns that his father is being held prisoner by the Russian Mafiya, he cuts class and braves the sub-zero temperatures of the Arctic Circle to rescue him.

Artemis promises his father that he'll stop his law-breaking ways but he is up for one last, tiny crime. Unfortunately, Artemis doesn't count on the operation being a total failure. Artemis is set up and forced to enlist the help of his faerie friends.

Artemis Fowl is going straight...as soon as he pulls off the most brilliant criminal feat of his career. But his last job plan goes awry, leaving his loyal bodyguard, Butler, mortally injured. Artemis's only hope of saving his friend is to enlist the help of his old rival, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon fairy police. It is going to take a miracle to save Butler, and Artemis's luck may have just run out.

For the first time, rabid fans will be able to see what Foaly's tin hat looks like; discover just how "Beet" Root got his name; and of course, follow their favorite criminal mastermind as he plots and connives in action-packed, full-color panels.

Opal Koboi, pixie and archenemy of the fairies, is under close surveillance lying in a coma. This is just a treacherous plot and Artemis Fowl, the brilliant criminal mastermind, although now devoid of faerie knowledge, must save the day.

Evil pixie, Opal Koboi, is back and she's more dangerous than ever. This time she doesn't just want power over the fairy People - this time she wants the humans too. Captain Holly Short is the only fairy with a hope of stopping her, but as Holly knows, it takes one genius criminal mastermind to fight another. But the 14-year-old genius that Holly is thinking of doesn't even remember that fairies exist. How is she going to convince Artemis Fowl to help her stop Opal? Gold usually does the trick, and this time is should be no different. Or is Artemis changing?

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.

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

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

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

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

As head of Obernewtyn's Farseeker Guild, Elspeth Gordie must travel to the lowlands to seal an alliance between Obernewtyn and the rebel forces that oppose the totalitarian Council. Yet, her dreams call her to a completely different purpose. Elspeth must destroy what remains of the weapons that brought unimaginable chaos, death and mutation to her world. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

With a third of Australians born and around half with one parent born overseas, migration stories are a crucial part of our national experience. In her verse novel, Ask No Questions, Eva Collins writes spare affecting lines about her own experience as a teenager when her parents decided to emigrate from Poland to Australia. She captures the loss and gain, grief and celebration with great poignancy. Simply written but deeply moving, Ask No Questions is accessible poetry that is particularly suited for young adult readers.

The universal understanding is that goblins are blood thirsty, uncivilised monsters, and elves are artistically refined and polite. Be prepared for a confrontational truth as Brangwain Spurge, elfin emissary, is catapulted across the Bonecruel Mountains into the goblin territory of Tenebrion. His mission is to infiltrate and spy on the evil goblin government under the pretence of delivering a gift, and return alive.

What is the colour of love or loss? After an unimaginable tragedy turns her life upside-down, Leigh embarks on a quest that is partly physical, partly magical, and entirely transformative. An artist by calling, Leigh's story is illuminated in colours of all shades and meaning. As she journeys into her family's past and discovers a cultural identity she never knew, she finds the answers she was looking for, and even answers she didn't know she needed. This book deals with issues of grief, suicide and healing. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Avicenna Crowe's mother, Joanne, is an astrologer with uncanny predictive powers and a history of being stalked. Now she is missing. The police are called, but they're not asking the right questions. Like why Joanne lied about her past, and what she saw in her stars that made her so afraid. But Avicenna has inherited her mother's gift. Finding an unlikely ally in the brooding Simon Thorn, she begins to piece together the mystery. And when she uncovers a link between Joanne's disappearance and a cold-case murder, Avicenna is led deep into the city's dark and seedy underbelly, unaware how far she is placing her own life in danger. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Jen returns to Ardilla, a well-loved, old holiday home, and struggles to understand the changing relationships between families and friends. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

It is 1665 and Hannah has come from the country to assist her sister in sweet making at the Sugared Plum sweet shop. The plague has also come to London so Hannah's life is now full of dangers as well as the sights and sounds of the crowded city.

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

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

Our heroes are back. Kind of. First, the bad news: an ancient evil - you know, your standard consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal - is about to be unleashed. The good news? Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They've just got to take care of a few small distractions first. Like the clan of gremps who'd like to rearrange their favourite faces. And the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be, who'll stop at nothing to get their hands on Auri. Then there's Kal's long-lost sister, who's not exactly happy to see her baby brother, and has a Syldrathi army at her back. With half the known galaxy on their tails, Squad 312 has never felt so wanted. Shocking revelations, bank heists, mysterious gifts, inappropriately tight bodysuits and an epic firefight will determine the fate of the Aurora Legion's most unforgettable heroes - and maybe the rest of the galaxy as well.

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 year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch. And Ty's squad isn't even his biggest problem. That'd be Aurora Jie-Lin O'Malley, the girl he's just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler's squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.

Is this the end? What happens when you ask a bunch of losers, discipline cases and misfits to save the galaxy from an ancient evil? The ancient evil wins, of course. Wait... Not. So. Fast. When we last saw Squad 312, they were working together seamlessly (aka freaking out) as an intergalactic battle raged and an ancient superweapon threatened to obliterate Earth. Everything went horribly wrong, naturally. But as it turns out, not all endings are endings, and the team has one last chance to rewrite theirs. Maybe two. It's complicated. Cue Zila, Fin and Scarlett (AND MAGELLAN!) making friends, making enemies and making history? Sure, no problem. Cue Tyler, Kal and Auri joining forces with two of the galaxy's most hated villains? Um, okay, yeah. That too. Actually saving the galaxy, though? Now that will take a miracle. The squad you love may be out of time, but are they out of luck? Find out in the epic finale to the bestselling and award-winning Aurora Cycle series!

This striking alphabet book shows an Australia with many dimensions. As a country, it has a lot to offer but Australia needs to confront its history and current greed; to stop leaning on old cultural institutions and symbols; and to welcome and tolerate differences. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

Imagine a world without wi-fi or clothes lines or lawnmowers or Vegemite or dual-flush toilets or even mousetraps. Weird, huh? These are just a few of the many inventions that have been created by clever Australians to solve some of life's difficult problems. Suitable for Stage 2 and Stage 3.

Australian history joins with science to bring the world of the explorer to life. Each chapter contains an historical section plus a related project and some quirky but interesting facts. Trying to stay alive and keeping an eye on the weather are just as applicable today as they were two hundred years ago. Tales of tragedy, conflict and death, loyalty, amazing perseverance and wonderment.

Ever wondered what all those tiny bugs are that you see when you look very closely at a rosebud on a rosebush? Ever wanted to be able to identify a bird just from hearing its song? Want to learn how to keep a pet ant lion? All that and more is to be found within this informative book. Features personal accounts from the author's experiences with many of the species mentioned.

This history of bushranging in Australia gives details about many bushrangers.

Ellie is not looking forward to a year in a new home or attending a new school, Avalon High, whose students are not as they appear to be.

A war that will fuel her. A bond that will destroy her. Emelina Flores has come home to Ruina. After rescuing her sister Olivia from imprisonment in rival kingdom Lera, Em and Olivia together have devised a plan that will rebuild Ruina to its former glory. But just because Em and Olivia are out of Lera doesn't mean they are safe. Their actions over the past year have had consequences, and they are now targets of retaliation. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Describing contemporary artworks and the intentions of the artists. The relevance of these works for today's kids is revealed.

When both of Eddie's parents catch a disease that makes them turn yellow and smell of hot-water bottles, it's agreed that he should go to stay at Awful End with relatives. Sadly, the relatives are Mad Uncle Jack and Even-Madder Aunt Maud.

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.