Booklists

When Greer MacDonald is one of a select few invited to a weekend of hunting, shooting and fishing at historic Longcross Hall by the mysterious Henry De Walencourt she cannot believe her luck but things may not all be what they seem. It does not take long for the students to realise that there is something more sinister afoot at Longcross than simply the dark corridors and animal heads hanging in every room. In fact their very lives might be at stake! A thriller full of twists and turns for lovers of The Hunger Games. Includes mature themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

He appears out of thin air and vanishes just as quickly. He is Zwilt the Shade, and he is evil. Yet he is no match for his ruler, Vilaya the Sable Quean. Along with their hordes of vermin, these two have devised a plan to conquer Redwall Abbey. And when the Dibbuns go missing, captured one by one, their plan is revealed. Will the Redwallers risk the fate of their Abbey and all of Mossflower Wood to save their precious young ones from imprisonment? Perhaps Buckler, Blademaster of the Long Patrol, can save the day. He has a score of his own to settle. And fear not, these Dibbuns are not as innocent as they appear. After all, they're from Redwall.

For many years, Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the random power of Free Magic and away from the Dead who won't stay dead. But, her father, the Mage Abhorsen, is missing and, to find him, Sabriel must cross back into that treacherous world where monsters stalk and fear prevails.

August 9, 1945, began like any other day for 6 year old Sachiko. Her country was at war, she didn't have enough to eat. At 11:01 am, she was playing outdoors with four other children. Moments later, those children were all dead. An atomic bomb had exploded just a half mile away. A true story of a young girl who survived the atomic bomb and her long journey to find peace.

In the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima, Sadako's dying wish is to make one thousand paper cranes in accordance with the Japanese legend that says that the gods will grant the maker's wish to be well again.

Saffy feels like an outsider until her family's actions and efforts on her behalf make her feel very loved, in this, our first meeting with the delightful, Casson family children.

A fast-moving adventure story involving an escaped convict, bullying, boyish rivalries and ghosts. Joel struggles for self-control and self-confidence as he battles his own hyperactivity.

There are three kinds of people in Janna's world: 1. Saints, the people who do all the heavy lifting in the world, the do gooders. Moving things forward, fighting the good fight. . 2. Misfits, people who don't belong. Like the way Janna doesn't fit into her Dad's brand-new family or in the leftover one composed of Mom and her older brother. 3. Monsters. Well, monsters wearing saint masks. Like the monster at her mosque. People think he's holy, untouchable, but nobody has seen under the mask. Except Janna. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Samkin, the squirrel, and Arula, the mole, must find Martin the Warrior's stolen sword or bad luck will continue to befall Redwall.

The friendship between two children is greatly tested during the witch hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Elizabeth is an independent thinker, frightened by what she sees as a mass deception sweeping her town. George, the son of one of the trial judges, sees things very differently. Both sides are presented.

The first part of Sally Morgan's My Place, presented as Sally's story of her school days, her family, growing up, going to university and trying to discover her place.

Before his grandmother moved from India to the island of Mariposa, Muki Krishnan's life was pretty good. He hung out with his friends, stayed under the radar at school, and slept as late as he could. But now? He has to share his bedroom with Paati, his grandmother, who snores all night then wakes him at dawn to do yoga. Paati's arrival coincides with bigger challenges in Mariposa as the once peaceful island is fracturing. The president divides the people into those who have lived here for 3 or more generations (Butterflies) or more recent immigrants like Muki's family (Moths). Muki and his friends find the camp that is being built to imprison Moths and then Paati is taken away. A rebellion is under way but can Muki save Paati and his family in time and what can one school boy do against a whole government?

Hunter's mum thinks the road trip up the Queensland coast will bring the family closer, now that his stepdad and baby brother are part of the mix. But, with tension and secrets sizzling beneath the happy family facade, the trip becomes Hunter's worst nightmare. The further away from home he gets, the more he can't shake thoughts of the accident that took his dad away. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Eight short stories that provide a window into the little known world of teenagers growing up in different parts of the Arab world, including Iraq, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

Sassycat is lightning fast and beautiful but, so conceited. She places her human carer, Rebecca, in great danger of being possessed by evil ghosts. Sassycat must stop thwarting the local pets and become a team player to protect Rebecca. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An extraordinary graphic novel that confronts raw grief visually and through the words of Blue Baker, devestated at the loss of his father and offended by the patronising support he is offered. Blue's grief is angry and violent and inconsolable. Strangely though Blue does find relief from his suffering and the record of his journey is here. Strong language and images used in context. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Abbie is a very engaging, six year old, orphan orang-utan on the final leg of an odyssey that will see her reintroduced to her Kalamantan home. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

Imagine if you discovered your whole world was actually in a computer. Noble is a knight who must fight everything he encounters in his quest to reach the castle and free the princess. But he's tired. Rufus comes along and turns his world upside down with his own ideas about how to get ahead: don't play by the rules. Suddenly, life is more interesting - and less painful - than ever before. But the new rules are harder to live by than the old ones.

Part of the ANZAC story. Factual historical recollections are combined with a fiction to reveal the thoughts and feelings of the young soldiers and the horrendous conditions they endured and survived.

Three sinister stories with chilling twists, including Scared, where the countryside hates Gary as much as he hates it; A career in computer games, in which Kevin's computer seems to break all the rules, and Howard's end, that might be heaven or hell.

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling instalment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She is trying to break out of prison - even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

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?

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.

Solving the maze was supposed to be the end and Thomas was sure he would get his life back. But burned and baked, the earth is a wasteland and people are driven made by an infection knows as the flare and Thomas and the gladers must face another trial. Includes some violence. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Alex Rider is determined to find out more about his father. He travels to Italy where he manages to infiltrate the world of Claudia Rothman, a member of the crime organization, Scorpia.

Alex Rider wants his life back. But, when you're the world's most successful spy, there's only one way out. One bullet. One life. The ends starts here.

Teenage spy, Alex, travels to Venice to discover the truth about his past. But, the truth lies with a criminal organisation known as Scorpia, and Alex must make a choice to work for MI6 once more or betray everything he believes in.

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.

Young Nathan is taken hostage by Captain Graham and his pirates. Nathan must decide whether to succumb to pressure and join the murderous crew or fight for his freedom.

In a future land once known as Britain, nomad tribes are preparing to fight a terrifying enemy, the first-ever mobile city. Before London can launch itself, young engineer Fever Crumb must journey to the wastelands of the North. She seeks the ancient birthplace of the Scriven mutants. Fever finds a mysterious black pyramid with extraordinary secrets that will change her world forever.

In a perfect world, what is there left to fear? In a world where disease, war and crime have been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly gleaned (killed) by professional scythes. Citra and Rowan are 16 year old teenagers who have been selected to be scythes' apprentices, and despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation, they must learn the art of gleaning and understand the necessity of what they do. Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe's apprentice and as Citra and Rowan come up against a terrifyingly corrupt Scythedom, it becomes clear that the winning apprentice's first task will be to glean the loser. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A collection of true maritime adventures across the seven seas with maps of the voyages. Contains the true life stories of danger, daring and saltwater including Francis Drake's first voyage across the Pacific Ocean.

Saul loves the water but his dad hates it. Saul's mum walked into the sea and drowned. Now Saul's dad has moved him far away and Saul yearns for the sea.

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

March was born in April, just as the sun set. She is a singing baby, who never sleeps. The town of Kolkaper is on edge and the Town Council orders scientists to take her away to the Cave Forest, a place to study freaks like her. Acting quickly, March's parents send her to safety in a distant town. But, March's destiny lies in the town of her birth and she must return to save the city from itself.

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.

Sebastian, Max and Cornelius are searching for the legendary lost city of Mendip when they are attacked by the Gograth, armoured apelike beasts. Rescued by jungle girl Keera, they are taken to the Jilith, a primitive tribe of warriors, who are locked in a grim struggle for survival with the Gograth. Sebastian's arrival is foretold in an ancient prophesy that the elf-Lord will rid the Jilith of the curse of the Gograth forever.

Sebastian Darke, the son of a human father and an elfish mother, has taken on his late father's job of jester, Prince of Fools. Trouble is, Sebastian can't tell a joke to save his life. He sets off for the fabled city of Keladon where he hopes to be appointed court jester to King Septimus. On the way, he encounters a tiny but powerful warrior called Cornelius, the beautiful Princess Kerin and blood-thirsty Brigands.

Sebastian and his friends are heading to the bustling port of Ramalat to embark on a perilous sea journey in search of the fabled lost treasure of Captain Calinestra. But, first, they must make it through the dark and mysterious forest of Geltane and survive an encounter with Leonora, a powerful enchantress with a magical hold over Sebastian's senses. Once there, they must battle humans, creatures and Nature.

Leslie is a normal, healthy, well-adjusted fourteen year old going to a good school. She has a great friend and her mother loves her to the moon and back. But, something is wrong and Leslie would be happy if only she was thinner. A very candid disclosure of the story of a young girl in the grip of anorexia nervosa, of the fight she had to conquer her problems and a subtle insight into her particular circumstances. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Meet Tommy and Tuppence, two likeable 1920s' upper class detectives, in their globetrotting quest to locate their missing client and some very important papers. This is a devious plot that goes back to the sinking of the Lusitania. The story includes international intrigue, secret treaties, disguises and blackmail. Beautifully illustrated by Frank Leclercq.

Anthony Cade is looking for adventure and a bit of quick cash. The good-natured drifter accepts a messenger job from an old friend. It sounds perfectly simple to deliver the provocative memoirs of a recently deceased European count but the murder of someone shadowing Anthony leads to the discovery of dark deeds and terrible secrets at Chimneys, a rambling estate. Beautifully illustrated by Laurence Suhner.

This is the tale of story-loving Henrietta and her family who are struggling with illness in their new house by Nightingale Wood. Worse, Henrietta is starting to see mysterious figures and strange cats that seem to be calling her into the woods and beyond. What does it all mean and is it true what they say, does a witch really live in Nightingale Wood?

Sophia is smart, like genius-calculator-brain smart. But there are some things no amount of genius can prepare you for, and the messiness of real life is one of them. When everything she knows is falling apart, how can she crack the puzzle of what to do with her life? Joshua spends his time honing magic tricks and planning how to win Sophia's heart. But when your best trick is making schoolwork disappear, how do you possibly romance a genius? 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.

Ever since MI6 recognized his potential, Alex Rider has constantly been thrust into the line of danger. From a routine visit to the dentist that turns into a chase through the streets of London, to a school trip with a deadly twist, no day has ever been ordinary for the teenage super-spy. This collection of seven thrilling adventures features familiar and new assailants from the best-loved world of Alex Rider, and also includes three, brand new and action-packed adventures.

Based on a true account of a young refugee girl's determination to overcome the loss of her legs in a Mozambique landmine accident. A deeply moving and unforgettable story.

Cricket Karlsson is going to become an artist just like her aunt, who loves cheese and art and always speaks her mind. Not like Cricket's mother, who is dieting and sighs at everything. But now Aunt Frannie has lost her joy and Cricket's best friend has dumped her for the horse girls. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

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.

Large, well-illustrated book with historical information and intriguing facts about the sphinx, the origin of its craftsmen, the Rosetta Stone and Atlantis.

For the past three years, Grace Blakely has been desperate to find out the truth about her mother s murder. But, the truth has only made her a target. The only way to put the past to rest is for Grace to kill it once and for all. On Embassy Row, power can make you a victor or a victim. Love can turn you into a fool or a fugitive, and family can lead you forward or bury you deep. Trust is a luxury and death is a real threat. Grace must be very careful about which secrets she brings to light. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A British family is forced to flee to Australia to escape criminals in England. This six-part thriller is exciting and suspenseful.

Eleven-year-old Alex wants to launch his iPod into space, so that other life forms will know, from his audio recordings, what life on Earth is really like. With a troubled home life and lots of questions about family and the meaning of life, Alex sets out on a remarkable road trip to find the answers he is searching for. From Colorado to New Mexico, Las Vegas to LA, Alex meets a host of new friends who help him answer the big questions. Questions like who is out there, where do I come from, and how can I be brave. Life for Alex will never be the same.Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In a world of glittering gowns and jewels, the selection is the chance of a lifetime, for any girl to compete for the heart of Prince Maxon. America is chosen to meet him and all of her plans to wed her secret love start to crumble. Some adult themes. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Living in a walled city where every aspect of life is controlled, Teddy is unable to pursue her creative passions for risk of being Sanitised. When truths are revealed, Teddy finds herself living in a city under the city. A darker world where creativity is embraced but survival is everything. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

After his father mysteriously goes missing, thirteen year old Simon is invited to follow in his father's footsteps by joining a team that experiments with time travel.

Elspeth Gordie's search will take her where she never thought to go, and bestow upon her stranger companions than any she ever imagined. It will lead her far from her destination to those she believed lost forever. And, it will test her, as she has never been tested before.

When Claire finds an old star-shaped brooch covered in sequins, it hurtles her back in time to 1932, when Australia was in the grip of the Great Depression. When she gets a job in a circus, Claire makes friends with Rosina, Jem and a boy called Kit. When Kit is kidnapped, the others must try to save him. But, Claire is wondering just who Kit and Rosina really are. One is escaping poverty and the other is escaping wealth.

At a market, a boy discovers an intriguing amulet and pleads with his mother to buy it. The amulet is shaped like a snake swallowing its own tail. The mother thinks it's ugly but the boy thinks it's beautiful and that it holds a story he wants to write. The vendor will not accept payment and seems happy to be rid of the amulet. The boy finds he cannot write and, when he falls asleep, he has vivid dreams, full of many emotions.

Abandoned as a baby, Adam feels there is nowhere he really belongs. When he wins the chance to test-drive a top-secret computer game, his luck changes. But, in the world he enters, the boundary between fantasy and reality breaks down.

Seven percent of Ro Devereux is a fast paced romance which follows Ro a creator of a app called MASH. The app becomes an overnight success but Ro is forced to partner with Miller (her ex best-friend) A story about loss, family dynamics and living your dreams. This book is a 21st Century look on life on socials! 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.

PSS 118 is just your typical school, except that it is a rickety old spaceship orbiting Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter. Jack's dad used to be the science teacher, until he got fired for tinkering with the ship. Now Jack wants to get through the last day of school without anything going wrong.. But when the school is mysteriously attacked, Jack discovers that his dad has built humanity's first light speed engine and given Jack control of it. Jack catapults it hundreds of light years away and right into the clutches of the first aliens humans have ever seen. School hasn't just got out, it has gone clear across the galaxy. Now it is up to Jack and his friends to get everyone home.

Arthur T. Owens grabbed a brick and hurled it at the trash picker. Arthur had his reasons, and the brick hit the Junk Man in the arm, not the head. But none of that matters to the judge-he is ready to send Arthur to juvie forever. Amazingly, it's the Junk Man himself who offers an alternative: 120 hours of community service... working for him. Arthur is given a rickety shopping cart and a list of the Seven Most Important Things: glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans, and mirrors. He can't believe it-is he really supposed to rummage through people's trash? But it isn't long before Arthur realizes there's more to the Junk Man than meets the eye, and the "trash" he's collecting is being transformed into something more precious than anyone could imagine. . . .

In 1914, Shackleton set out to chart the Antarctic continent. It was a journey fraught with setbacks and challenges. The ship, Endurance, becomes locked in the ice and when it begins to sink the men are forced to make camp on the ice floes. These are unstable subject to cracking and separating. The crew must journey through perilous conditions to find safety and the security of land. Battling hunger, exhaustion and fluctuating weather conditions the crew finally make it to Elephant Island where the crew separate in the hope of bringing help to rescue them. But with WW1 raging this proves challenging. An inspiring journey of perseverance, hope and courage.

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

Henrietta can burst into flames. Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's shocked when, instead of being executed, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers. Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorising humanity. Her fellow trainees are handsome young men, eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one. As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city - and the one she loves?

From the moment Sebastian is rescued as an abandoned pup, this passionate, feisty dog proves irresistible, even when he fails Obedience School. The story of the mutual devotion of a boy and his dog.

Every millennium, one age ends and another age dawns...and whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers is able to call the great Dragon God from the sea and be granted one wish. The time is near and the pieces of the Scroll are desperately sought by those who would demand ultimate power. A humble, peasant girl holds the first scrap of the Scroll, a girl with a dangerous secret. Demons have burned Yumeko's home to the ground, killing the master who trained her to hide and use her kitsune shape-shifting powers. She escapes the temple and is thrust into the path of a mysterious samurai, Kage Tasumi of the Shadow Clan. Yumeko realises quickly that he is under orders to find the scroll she carries...and to kill anything or anyone in order to do so, but she needs his help. Will her tricky kitsune ways be enough to keep her safe? A wish will be granted and a new age will dawn. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Four months after fleeing his own people, Kellen has discovered he's an even worse outlaw than he is a mage. It doesn't help that his only allies are a swaggering card player and a thieving squirrel cat. Then he meets Seneira, a blindfolded girl who isn't blind. Her secrets pull them into a conspiracy of magic, blackmail and murder.

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

Set in Hamilton College, the story is presented through the eyes of David and follows his realisation that there are dark forces at work in his school. David befriends a newcomer, Simon, who doesn't fit in and faces bullying and intimidation. When David and Simon discover that bullying resulted in the death of a student a number of years earlier, they set out on a quest for justice.

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

Treachery, betrayal, greed and racism played out in a mythical, fantastical, medieval kingdom. Ora must confront the King's terrible secret, related to the pervasive Quickwater Lake. A lake, black and deadly as night, that demands sacrifice. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

'Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.' William Shakespeare. Meet William Shakespeare and understand how he became the world's greatest playwright. This step-by-step journey through his plays and poetry makes the genius of his writing accessible to readers everywhere.

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.

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.

Set in and around London in the mid 1600s, Widge is ordered by his master to go to the Globe Theatre and copy Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Twelve of William Shakespeare's most famous plays are presented in narrative form.

London society supplied many inspirational ingredients for William Shakespeare, helping him become one of the greatest writers of the English language. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

A fantastical story, the first in a trilogy linking the Arthurian legend with contemporary adolescent issues. Modern teenagers discover themselves when they travel back in time to the court of King Arthur.

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

When Guinevere summons Callie back to Camelot, Callie becomes trapped in time while her companions face Mordred on the bloody battlefield of Camlann. Callie's future depends on saving Ana but death waits in the darkness for them all unless Callie can first save herself.

Shaozhen has no intention of staying in his remote and poor village in Henan and becoming a poor farmer. But when the worst drought in over sixty years threatens the entire village, he realises he must come up with a plan. And better yet, he needs the people of the village to support his plan if it is going to succeed!

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.

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

Everything changed after Jane went for a swim at the beach. Now, she is returning to school with her fake arm and the kids whisper about the shark girl and stare. Jane wonders why this happened and what it will mean for her, and her love of art.

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

Kethlun Warder is a journeyman glass-blower mage with rare and uncontrolled lightning magic powers. Several mage combine their powers to try to solve a murder in this mystery fantasy. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Shauzia is a teenage girl living in a refugee camp on the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan. She dreams of going to France to meet her friend, Parvana. Shauzia runs away from the camp and her journey is fraught with difficulties and dangers.

Evie is out of options. She must comply with the Affinity Project and obey their rules, play their deadly games, and give up Jamie. Her losses keep growing. When she decides to help a small group of Shields trying to affect change, Evie finds herself in the firing line. Counsellor Knox is intent on revealing her secrets and shackling her to the Affinity Project for life. To protect her family, Evie must betray those closest to her. Book 3 in the Spark trilogy. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

No enemy may find this place; we hide it in mist and shadow...When King Alfred's great hall is destroyed by the Vikings, the king must flee with his family. But his daughter Aethelflaed knows that hiding in the marshes, far away from the battlefield, is the last thing she wants to do; can she fulfill her destiny and become a warrior princess, a shield maiden?

Shiloh, a beagle, is owned by a violent, angry man. Shiloh's rescue comes when Marty appears.

Accompanied by a talking possum and a tracker gnome, Colin and Grieve set out on a mad-cap and thrilling adventure to rescue the Shimmer. It is part of the stone of creation and has been stolen by power-mad, completely evil fairies.

Before her grandfather dies he shares a tiny concertina button box with the family. The box changes everything; crops die, flowers wilt, a drought spreads over the land and Oma, her grandma, becomes very ill. Ellie decides to get rid the box to save her grandmother. Her journey takes her with a horse and the family goat into the Gleam country. Ellie learns the truth about her gifts and her family.

June, Bette and Gigi have given their all to dance at New York's most elite ballet school. Now they are competing one final time for a spot at the prestigious American Ballet Company. With the stakes higher than ever, these girls have everything to lose... and even the nice girls are no longer playing nice. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

In a post-apocalyptic world, Nailer scavenges for copper wire by crawling into the wrecks of ancient oil tankers that line the beaches of America's Gulf Coast. It's dirty, dangerous work. After a hurricane, Nailer finds the wreck of a clipper ship, filled with valuable goods that could make him rich. Amid the wreckage, a girl clings to life and Nailer is her only hope. He must make a choice. Includes violence. 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.

Young Dow Amber is no sailor. But driven by a strange sea-longing he ventures down to the great grim bay known as the Claw. He hopes there to learn of seafaring, but he finds only a fearful people who scarcely sail at all, for fear they have been cursed.

At long last a captain of his own ship, Dow Amber is determined to venture beyond the final frontier, the still, stagnant waters of the Doldrums, in search of a New World. With Nell finally by his side, he is hopeful they can start again, far from politics, betrayal and war. But, none who have sailed the Ocean of the Dead have returned to tell the tale. Before long, an old enemy appears, bringing new dangers. The fleet will either sail to certain death or to glorious new life beyond the treacherous Doldrums. The final book in the Ship Kings series.

Dow Amber has set sail at last upon the battleship, Chloe, but he wonders if an outsider and an enemy can ever truly belong in the Ship Kings' world. In the icy wastes, Dow must take his fate in hand, discover whether he is truly destined to be a mariner and determine whether the mysterious scapegoat girl, Ignella, is a friend or foe.

Dow Amber, an intrepid sailor, has been unhappily biding his time in the backwaters of the Twin Islands, while war rages on the high seas, between his brave, inventive rebels and the tyrannical Ship Kings. When an enemy sailor brings news of captured allies, Dow is driven to a daring escape plan. But, he doesn't realise the cost of escape and how troubling the thirst for revenge can become.

From the first bounce to a future timeline and everything in between, including the tallest, the shortest, the best and fairest, this book covers just about everything you would ever want to know about the game of Aussie Rules.

Sam and Grace come together one Autumn having loved each other for years at a distance. Now they must fight to keep each other as Sam is drawn back to being a wolf.

Arthur has been unexpectedly offered a scholarship to attend Shiverton Hall, a school steeped in tales of curses and evil. He has his reasons for wanting a fresh start, but upon arriving at the school, with its hidden labyrinth and scares hiding in the shadows, he would rather return home.

At fourteen, Pip's life is finally his own. His domineering dad is focusing on big brother, Nick, and Pip's climbing, his passion in life, is going one way up. Beneath the tranquil surface, however, currents are stirring. On the traditional McLeod first hunting trip, Pip faces a dramatic choice and discovers what it means to confront issues of life and death. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

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

A range of authors and illustrators, both well known or not, present stories, poems and illustrations on the huge range of things which scare them, from freaky fairies to technology taking over.

Layla is a young singer who is just hitting the big time. But, with all of the excitement of her growing fame comes the eerie presence of an unknown heckler who begins to follow all her performances. She doesn't know who he is or why he's doing it. And, she just wants it to stop.

Gordon is growing up in World War II London. His older brother, Raymond, leaves home and becomes involved in secretive war work, or so he leads Gordon to believe. When Gordon finds a revolver hidden in his parent's house, he decides to track his brother down. But finding Raymond leads to much more than Gordon had bargained for as Raymond lures him into danger.

Fascinating historical aspects of medicine presented in an unusual and exciting format.

Investigates the relationship between Aboriginal people, British colonists and European missionaries.

The swimmer, the rebel and the nerd. Ryan, Harley and Miles live different lives, have different interests and keep different secrets. All they have in common is their shared, best friend, Isaac. They were his sidekicks. But, now, Isaac has gone. A mature and challenging book. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Siggy learns the pitfalls of alcohol abuse and not considering the consequences before embarking on what looks like a good idea at the time. Growing up in a sleepy coastal town full of characters, with the girl he loves only a long bike ride away, Siggy is on a quest for the perfect girlfriend. He also has to survive the cool kids at school and build family ties with a mum, an arty sister and a potential stepfather. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

It's 2027 and the human race is dying. Plants, animals and humans have been infected by spores from space and become part of a vast alien intelligence. When 16-year-old Callie discovers her little sister Gracie has been infected, she flees with Gracie to the Zone to avoid termination by the ruthless officers of Quarantine. What Callie finds in the Zone will alter her irrevocably, and send her on a journey to the stars and beyond. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

When Margot's fiance, Harry, went missing in action, she found herself left with a secret which could ruin her life and her family's reputation. Three years later, Harry has returned. Can Margot deal with her devastating secret and reveal the truth to a man she still loves?

France is in the dark days of the guillotine where the innocent and guilty are killed daily. Yann and his compatriots rescue French aristocrats from the guillotine and get them safely away to England. Count Kalliovski, supposedly dead, is plotting Yann's death. Against this terrible background, Yann yearns for his love, Sidonie, whom he believes is safe in London.

Joey can walk between universes. He has joined a band of freedom fighters comprised of genetic variants of himself who are dedicated to protecting the Altiverse. They must battle the twisted plans of scientists and decide if they can trust a newcomer who doesn't quite fit in.

"We can't wait three days. There is a man coming to kill us." A Man with a silver hand. It's 1918 and the Great War is entering its final phase. In Northern France, young Aimee has just found out that her mother is part of a spy network working with the British. After reluctantly befriending Marius, a young German boy who has been left behind by his countrymen, she must try and help him get back behind German lines while they evade a traitor she helped to discover.

Will Stanton discovers that he is the last of the Old Ones, wielders on Earth of the giant powers of good and evil.

One hundred years ago, the world celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal, connecting the world's two largest oceans. Creating a path of water where a mountain had stood is one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. But, thousands lost their lives, and those who survived worked under the harshest conditions for only a few silver coins a day.

The night the Nazis come to take their mother away, three children escape in a terrifying scramble across the rooftops. In the chaos of Warsaw, they have to learn to survive on their own. Their father's paperknife becomes their symbol of hope.

George and Edie have returned to an empty, snow-bound London where the battle between the 'spit' and 'taints' continues and war is imminent. The Walker has been banished to the Outer Darkness but, to maintain 'the balance', a new Darkness has entered the world. George must face the Last Knight and win his final duel of the Hard Way. Edie and George delve into Edie's past, and her future.

When she laid eyes on the strange couple, young village girl Silvermay, had no idea that her life would change so completely. All she knew was that the man was handsome and every girl in the town was looking at him. When the woman collapses, Silvermay is given the task of caring for her newborn child, and she is drawn into a voyage to save the child from a dark and bloody destiny, foretold in an ancient mosaic.

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.

Twelve year old Maggie McAllister and her family are caught up in one of the most dramatic events in Australia's history, the Shearers' Strike. In 1891, trouble erupted between the Shearers' Union, the pastoralists and the government. Through her writing, Maggie plays her part in the Union's struggle although her friends do not see things the same way. Singing a rebel song may have heartbreaking consequences for Maggie.

An unconscious stranger, possessing his own magical chantments, has infiltrated Antaris. He throws Calwyn's world into chaos, leading her on a journey of discovery in this fantasy saga set in extraordinary lands. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Seventy five fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm are wonderfully evoked by Shaun Tan's extraordinary sculptural works. Wicked stepsisters, greedy kings, honourable peasants, ruthless witches, and tales of love, betrayal and magical transformation provide the inspiration for the stunning sculptural works.

A number of Michael Morpurgo's beautifully written short stories, each one preceded by insights from the author relating to the background of the story and how he came to write it.

Jena's life as leader of the line, gathering mica from deep inside the mountain, is hard. But, it is all she knows, accepting everything that her community leaders tell her. After an unfortunate accident, Jena discovers a small polished stone, which brings forth buried memories from her past. These memories disrupt everything and everyone around her.

'The discovery of a sorcerous map leads left-handed bookseller Merlin into great danger, requiring a desperate rescue attempt from his sister, the right handed bookseller Vivian, and art student Susan Arkshaw who is still struggling to deal with her own recently discovered magical heritage. The map takes the trio out of this world to a place maintained by deadly sorcery and guarded by monstrous living statues. To unravel the secrets of a murderous Ancient Sovereign, the booksellers must investigate centuries of disappearances and deaths.

Discover how Sir Isaac Newton changed the world through Science. Find out what he learnt about gravity. Why his 'laws of motion' are so important to us. How he came up with a new type of maths. How his discoveries have changed our understanding of the world around us forever.

Following their adventures in the Border Sea, Arthur and Leaf head for home. But, only Leaf gets through the front door. Arthur is blocked because someone or something has assumed his identity and is taking over his life.

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.

Mini's big sister is getting married. Their mom passed away seven years ago and between Dad's new start-up and Vinnie's medical residency, there's no one but Mini to plan the wedding. Dad raised her to know more about computers, calculus and cars than Desi weddings but from the moment Mini held the jewelry Mom left them, she wanted her sister to have the wedding Mom would've planned. Now Mini has only two months to get it done and she's not going to let anything distract her, not even the persistent, mysterious and smoking-hot Vir Mirchandani. Flower garlands, decorations, music, even a white wedding horse - everything is in place. That is, until a monster cyclone heads for Boston that could ruin everything. Will Mini come through as sister of the bride and save the day?

Follow the highs and lows of Cate and Bronte Campbell's long journey towards Olympic glory. Gain insight into their motivation, mental toughness, and the balance between life and elite-level swimming.

Princess Rani longs for a chance to escape her gilded cage and prove herself. Ria is a street urchin, stealing just to keep herself alive. When these two lives collide, everything turns on its head: because Ria and Rani, orphan and royal, are unmistakably identical. A deal is struck to switch places -- but danger lurks in both worlds, and to save their home, thief and princess must work together. Or watch it all fall into ruin.

Raina Petree is crushing her senior year, until her boyfriend dumps her, the drama club (basically) dumps her, the college of her dreams slips away, and her arch-nemesis triumphs. Things aren't much better for Millie Goodwin. Her father treats her like a servant, and the all-boy Mock Trial team votes her out, even after she spent the last three years helping to build its success. But then, an advice columnist unexpectedly helps Raina find new purpose in a pair of knitting needles and a politically active local yarn store. This leads to an unlikely meeting in the girls' bathroom, where Raina inspires Millie to start a rival team. The two join together and recruit four other angry girls to not only take on Mock Trial, but to smash the patriarchy in the process.

Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, does not want to marry an oafish lord from the North whom she has never met, just because her father wills it. Distraught on the morning of her betrothal ceremony she loses control and accidentally reveals the forbidden magic that coursing through her veins which catches the attention of her stepmother Raikama, a sorceress in her own right. Raikama banishes Shiori and turns her six brothers into cranes warning that she should speak of this to no-one; for every word that escapes her lips one of her brothers will die. Penniless, voiceless and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers and uncovers a dark plot to seize her father's throne.

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

Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, Mathias and Nina are an unlikely band of misfits who agree to take on a ridiculously impossible mission. Their journey is gripping and filled with unexpected twists and turns. Can they achieve the impossible? Will they make it out alive? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Dawn knows that she is not popular at school and is not a style queen. While she acknowledges that style queens are the popular ones at school, she has nothing in common with them. Dawn is having problems dealing with things at home too and wonders how she'll be able to sort out her problems.

Trying to return to his normal life as a schoolboy, four weeks after his last MI6 adventure, Alex Rider is recruited right off the soccer field to check out some suspicious goings-on at Wimbledon.

Featuring stunning, full-colour, Manga-style art and all the high-octane, action-packed adventure Alex Rider fans have come to expect.

Michael and Mina care for an extraordinary being when it seems to have given up on life.

In the dark and derelict garage, Michael discovers a strange creature. His life is in turmoil with his baby's illness and his new found friendship with 'a girl'. The strange creature affects his life. Michael wonders if it could possibly be an angel.

Makepeace Lightfoot lives during harsh times. During the English Civil War she has to travel to live with her paternal family after the death of her mother. Makepeace has inherited more than most from her father's family. She has to learn to defend herself from ghosts. The struggle to make a life for herself in 17th century England with strict religious rules could be the hardest struggle of all. Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 and above.

Though he's about to discover that being a skeleton doesn't stop you from being tortured, if the torturer is determined enough. And if there's anything Skulduggery hates, it's torture. Will evil win the day? Will Stephanie and Skulduggery stop bickering long enough to stop it? One thing's for sure: evil won't know what's hit it.

As the Skulduggery Pleasant series nears its end (again), relive the adventure in this lavishly illustrated compendium of all things Skulduggery. Featuring a unique run-down of the books so far, it also includes an invaluable reference tool for the dizzying cast of characters, as well as bonuses, surprises, and a dark story all of its own. The Grimoire is an essential book for any Skulduggery fan.

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.

A brand new Skulduggery Pleasant novella for World Book Day: a hilarious and thrilling standalone story in the internationally bestselling series - perfect for new readers, and essential for Skulduggery fans! Three ancient gods are freed from their prison with only one desire: to destroy the planet and everyone on it. To save us all, Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain must go undercover in a Dublin school. Skulduggery has to blend in with the teaching staff, while Valkyrie has to pass for an ordinary schoolgirl. Above all else, no matter what happens, they both must act completely and utterly normal. We are so dead.

Smash the glass, climb through the window and enter the world of Skulduggery Pleasant with this complete story collection. After all, doors are for people without imagination.

On a desperate journey to recover her sister's lost soul, Valkyrie Cain goes up against the High Sanctuary itself, and there's nothing Skulduggery Pleasant can do to stop her. With Abyssinia's grand plan about to kick off in a night of magic, terror, and bloodshed, it falls to Omen Darkly to save the lives of thousands of innocent people. And as the madness unfolds around him, as hidden enemies step into the light, and as Valkyrie is sucked into a desperate, lawless quest of her own, he has no choice but to become the hero he never really wanted to be or die in the attempt.

Valkyrie Cain must undertake a dangerous rescue mission to retrieve Skulduggery from a hellish dimension, ruled by the Faceless Ones. There's no time for her to take a breather afterwards, though. There's the matter of the Desolation Engine, a bomb that could wipe out thousands, that has fallen into the wrong hands

Skulduggery, Valkyrie and Omen return in the 14th and penultimate novel in the internationally bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant series - and their most epic test yet - In a matter of days, the world will change. Billions of lives will be wiped away in a final, desperate search for the Child of the Faceless Ones - she who is destined to bring about the return of humankind's ancient overlords. To prevent this, Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain have one last terrible option: the assassination of Damocles Creed. With protests stirring in the magical city of Roarhaven, with riots and revolutions on the horizon, Valkyrie must decide who she wants to be: the hero who risks everything for a noble ideal, or the killer who sacrifices her own soul for the fate of humanity. The decision must be made, and time is running out.

The death bringer has risen. Skullduggery has seven days to uncover the necromancers' secret before it is too late. The clock is ticking.

Infected by a rare strain of magic, normal people are developing unstable magic powers, endangering their own and other peoples' lives. Their only hope lies with the Sanctuary, which has its own problems. Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain must find out what's causing the infection and prevent the takeover of the Sanctuary by international sorcerers. And, normal teenager Kitana and her friends are infected and will tear the city apart unless they can be stopped.

War has finally come between Sanctuaries and Skulduggery must team up with Valkyrie and the rest of the dead men to stop it.

For years, Valkyrie Cain has struggled to keep her loved ones safe from harm, plunging into battle, time and time again, by Skulduggery Pleasant's side, and always emerging triumphant. But now the very thing that Valkyrie fights for is in danger, as a ruthless killer snatches her little sister in order to lure Valkyrie into a final confrontation. With Skulduggery racing to catch up and young sorcerer Omen scrambling along behind, Valkyrie only has twelve hours to find Alice before it is too late. The clock is ticking!

Skulduggery Pleasant is back and reunited with his original head. But, all is not well in the magical world. Foreign powers are conspiring to take over the Irish Sanctuary and, for another thing, Valkyrie has discovered she might be the sorceress set to destroy the world.

With Serpine dead, the world is safe once more. At least, that's what Valkyrie and Skulduggery think until the notorious Baron Vengeous makes a bloody escape from prison, and dead bodies and vampires start appearing all over Ireland. With just about everyone out to kill Valkyrie, the daring detective duo face their biggest challenge yet.

Valkyrie Cain has been out of action for years, recovering from the war against her alter-ego Darquesse. But bad people still want to do bad things, and Skulduggery Pleasant is still there to stop them. So when Skulduggery learns of a plot to resurrect a terrifying evil, he persuades Valkyrie to join him for just twenty-four hours. But they need someone else. Someone inconspicuous, someone who can go undercover. Enter Omen Darkly. Not a warrior. Not a detective. And definitely not the chosen one.

At the funeral of her gothic novelist uncle, fourteen year old Stephanie glimpses an overdressed, bespectacled figure hidden under a broad brimmed hat. When her uncle's will is read, she inherits a mansion and a fortune. She unites with the weird and witty skeleton, Skulduggery Pleasant, sighted at the funeral and joins forces with him to save the world from the Faceless Ones.

To avert catastrophe, Skulduggery and Valkyrie are sent on a secret mission that takes them away from everything they know, to a forsaken land of magic and grim, unrelenting terror.

Following the loss of Valkyrie Cain, Skulduggery Pleasant must use any and all means to track down and stop Darquesse before she turns the world into a charred, lifeless cinder. He draws together a team of soldiers, monster hunters, killers, criminals and Valkyrie's own murderous reflection.The war may be over, but the final battle is about to begin. And not everyone gets out of here alive.

A Skulduggery short story. Fifteen year old Ryan is running away from home, looking for escape and adventure. Ryan hasn't gone far before he is set upon by a bunch of scary, nihilistic punk-sorcerers who need him to set off a doomsday device that will destroy the planet and everyone on it. Skulduggery and Valkyrie only have a few hours to figure out what's going on, while saving Ryan and, incidentally, the whole world.

Third bone-breaking, belly-busting adventure in the series. If you've read the previous Skulduggery books then you know what the Faceless Ones are. You can probably take a wild guess that things in this book are going to get awfully sticky for our skeletal hero and his young sidekick.

Friendship can be found in the unlikeliest of places. After her mother's death, Sky leaves her city life to move in with her aunt and uncle in a small Australian town. Life in a new place isn't easy, and Sky finds comfort in the friendship of a stray dog she meets along the way. But her new friends at school are another story, and as Sky struggles to fit in, she finds herself doing things that go against everything she believes in. When Sky stumbles on a case of animal cruelty, she is forced to question what's really important to her and who she wants to be. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

It's not like any other day because on the other side of the world, nuclear missiles are detonated. When Fin wakes in his home in the Blue Mountains the next morning, it is dark, cold and snowing. There is no internet, no phone, no power and no parents. As the outage continues for days and then weeks, Fin and his brother struggle to survive and grow desperate. Contains mature themes and some language in context. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

In a future where wild beasts, humans and mechanical beings battle for control, two children, Mei and Rom, on opposite sides of the earth, connect through a mysterious journal that comes alive to reveal a powerful primal force and a frightening destiny. Mei and Rom must work together to overcome evil. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Matt Cruse flies higher than he ever dreamed. The former cabin boy, now a student at the prestigious Paris Airship Academy, is on a two-week training tour with a run-down cargo airship. His captain sights a legendary ghost ship and Matt recklessly heads skyward in pursuit. The Hyperion, lost in a storm in the dawn of the aviation age, is rumoured to hold great wealth, and Matt is suddenly the only person on earth who knows her coordinates.

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.

Joshi is a disappointment to those around him. Born into the powerful Nibhelline family, he displays none of the proud fighting traditions of the Greens. He even prefers gardening and growing flowers to living up to the family name. So, when Joshi meets Abelha, the bee girl, and learns of the existence of a mysterious green flower, he finally has a chance to earn the respect of the Greens.

Defeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible - assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

No props. No music. No costumes. Just you, your words and a mic-you've got two minutes to make the crowd scream your name. Miles Merrill, spoken word artist and founder of Australian Poetry Slam, and award-winning teacher Narcisa Nozica will take you from novice to spoken word superstar in no time. Twenty years after Merrill introduced poetry slams to Australia, there's a national competition with a live audience of 20,000 people! With tips from stars of the Australian poetry slam scene, including bestselling author Maxine Beneba Clarke, this book will inspire you to slam your own poetry, Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Exchange student Jenna has managed to get an appointment at New York's coolest hair salon, but when her teacher insists she stays at the boring Metropolitan Museum she stumbles into ancient Egypt.

Yukin is captured by slaves and taken to Quentaris. He discovers that he has a power which he eventually uses to great effect.

It is five years later, and Kestrel's people have been enslaved. It is a strange set of circumstances that will lead to the overthrow of the Mastery. Sometimes violent and cruel but always compelling. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Cedar hangs out on the edges of the neighbourhood social circuit with her dog and best friend. Things change when she meets a boy called Kite and finds they have a lot in common. Together they form a circus troupe and put on a performance.

The dark is full of terrifying creatures. And Tom Ward -- the seventh son of a seventh son, and the Spook's last apprentice -- hasn't seen all of them. Far from the county, one named Slither has lived for hundreds of years, hunting blood. But a dying father binds the monster to a bargain. If Slither will take his two youngest daughters safely to their family in the south, then the eldest daughter, Nessa, is his. For Nessa the nightmare is just beginning. And when Slither and Nessa cross paths with the feared witch assassin Grimalkin, they will become unwitting players in the quest to stop the Fiend once and for all.

Slog's father is dead and he knows it. But, when he sees the scruffy man outside the butcher shop, Slog knows that it's his father who has returned to see him, just as he promised. But, Davie, his best friend, is just as convinced that this man is a fake.

Skip is an outsider, a quiet observer, who draws pictures to make sense of the world. When war grips the city in which Skip and his mismatched family are surviving, they are forced to shelter in an empty fun fair, scavenge for food and live on their imaginations.

Theodore 'Armpit' Johnson is determined to finish school, save money and become a respected member of society again. He may be the victim, the perpetrator or the hero of a violent crime in this amusing, sensitive and highly suspenseful story. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Kieran finds the body of a homeless person floating in the Thames River. The police regard the death as an unfortunate accident but Kieran is obsessed with CSI and determined to find the murderer. Kieran's methodical note taking, his outstanding artistic abilities and unshakeable perseverance eventually provide many answers, not only to the murder but also to secrets in his own family.

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But, one night after Girl Scouts, she trips and falls, severely injuring her front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery and embarrassing headgear. And, on top of all that, there's a major earthquake, boy confusion and friends who turn out to be not so friendly. A graphic novel.

Five brothers were taught a different animal style of Kung-fu by the Grandmaster and each one uses it throughout their adventures. One brother, Seh, is a snake-style master and a keeper of secrets who uses his attuned senses to collect information.

Terry and Liam are concerned about the contents of the box they helped carry into the derelict house of the taxidermist. Liam feels their concerns were warranted when Terry disappears.

Although close to his adoptive parents, James has always wondered about his natural mother. Armed with only a small stone and a note scribbled on the back of an envelope as clues to her identity, James sets off to find his past.

Alone in Sydney, Alex is recruited by the Australian government to infiltrate an organised people-smuggling ring, the violent criminal underworld of the Snakeheads.

Growing up in vibrant, crowded Nairobi to loving parents, Makena's driving dream is to accompany her wonderful mountain guide father climbing Mt Kenya. But when her beautiful world is shattered she is plunged into the darkness of the city, with a thousand ways to fall, each more deadly than any crevasse. In a world full of strangers should she trust Snow, whose ballet dreams are haunted by a past she is still running from? And is the sparkling fox a friend or a figment of her imagination? After a fresh start in the Scottish Highlands turns bad, Makena flees to the mountains. But will that end her or be the making of her?

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.

When the Kingdom of Winter was conquered, its citizens were enslaved and left without magic or a monarch. Eight survivors are their only hope. Meira, orphaned during Winter's defeat, is training to be a warrior, and is desperately in love with Mather, her best friend and future king. She would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again. When an ancient locket that can restore Winter's magic is discovered, Meira desperately wants to find it. But, in a world of evil magic and dangerous politics, the mission doesn't go as planned. Usually read by 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.

With Angra trying to break through her mental defences, Meira desperately needs to learn to control her own magic. Mather will do anything to save his queen. He needs to find Meira, and, finally, tell her how he really feels. Ceridwen will do anything to save her people. Angra had her brother killed, stole her kingdom, and made her a prisoner. As Angra unleashes the Decay on the world, Meira, Mather and Ceridwen must bring the kingdoms of Primoria together, or lose everything. Final book in the trilogy. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

The Winterians are free and Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Primoria's lost and powerful chasm of magic is unearthed, Theron sees this find as an opportunity. But, Meira fears the danger that so much magic poses. When the king sends them on a mission to discover the chasm's secrets, Meira plans to garner support to keep the chasm shut, even if it means clashing with Theron. As the web of power and deception pulls tighter, Meira begins to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter but for the world. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

An innovative retelling of a fairy tale set in the jazz and gangster era of New York in the 1920s. Snow White lives in New York, known as the Big Apple. The wicked stepmother, a classy socialite, looks for herself in the Mirror newspaper.

It's 1928 and the glitz and glam of show business in pre-Depression era New York City is in full swing. The lights are bright for financiers and those who entertain them, and life seems good in the big city. But, in one house, a little girl is sent away by her cold, ruthless stepmother. She does not return until it's too late. The market has crashed, her father is gone and her stepmother is even more desperate for wealth and attention.

Arriving in unfamiliar territory, Ash finds his stepbrother Bly living with Mona, her dog, a goat and an isolated community who call themselves the Canaries. They've been abandoned by society through a sickness no one understands. When Ash falls ill too, the doctor's response is, "it's all in your mind". But Ash uncovers something much bigger: the sickness of the world. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

There is a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. It's not an easy thing to do and Arthur Dent thinks he's the only human who's been able to master this nifty little trick - until he meets Fenchurch, the girl of his dreams. Fenchurch knows how the world could be made a good and happy place. Unfortunately she's forgotten. Convinced that the secret lies within God's Final Message to His Creation they go in search of it. And in a dramatic break with tradition - actually find it... Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Marina's face is shockingly scarred. She has not spoken since her father threw acid at her mother, hitting Marina instead. As part of a writing assignment, she has to keep a journal. In it, she deals realistically with her post-traumatic stress. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Packed with entertaining illustrations alongside practical information, the Social Media Survival Guide answers questions about all aspects of social media. Managing life, relationships and mental health on any social media platform is important. Empower yourself to stay safe online with this fun, comprehensive guide.

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.

15-year-old Tyler's teenage angst turns into outright rebellion when his family leave London for a new life in Yorkshire. Angry with his parents about the upheaval and with only the dog to confide in, Tyler has no idea that a chance meeting with a skinny girl called Spider will lead him into a world he never even knew existed. Spider is living on the streets and Tyler finds himself spinning a tangled web of lies in his efforts to help her escape from this dark and dangerous place.

Drew isn't worried when his little brother, Martin, digs up a bone in the garden. Bu, Martin finds more bones in the shape of a hand, which then starts leaving spooky messages for Drew.

This is the story of Jim Martin who enlisted in the Australian army at the age of fourteen to fight in World War I.

A story about life in country Australia in World War II. Joey finds a Japanese soldier but no-one believes him.

Charley Goddard goes to fight in the American Civil War. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year - before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people - I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that's all over now. Now there's Solitaire. And Michael Holden. I don't know what Solitaire are trying to do, and I don't care about Michael Holden. I really don't. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 above. This novel depicts a number of mental health issues including depression, eating disorders and OCD. Please refer to the author's website for information about potentially triggering ideas and content.

September, 1982: Three months after the showdown with Simon Gutmunsson in St Elizabeths Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Emma Lewis has retreated to college life in Ohio, and the support of her family and her therapist. But Emma has a unique gift for hunting killers, and the FBI wants her back. Travis Bell is on track to make a career in law enforcement. But the FBI unit's latest case is testing all his skills, and in Emma's absence, Travis has accepted help from Kristin Gutmunsson, Simon's eccentric twin sister, to track a dangerous new target. Compelled to prevent more tragedy, Emma reaches out once more to Simon Gutmunsson to save the copycat's next victims -- but as always, Simon knows more than he's telling... Can Emma and Travis conquer a killer in the most horrifying situation they've ever faced? Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

This collection of poetry begins with a gentle petition of the reader to fill their hearts with poetry; to look within themselves, take the time to be silent, and listen to what they hear. This message continues throughout the poems as Thakur candidly shares her experiences as a Black woman and daughter of migrants living in the United Kingdom. In the poems is a proud daughter, mother, poet, and believer. She shares poems exploring the profound connections between people, and also the ways people can be careless with each other. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10, or above.

For as long as A can remember, life has meant waking up in a different person's body every day, forced to live as that person until the day ended. A always thought there wasn't anyone else who had a life like this. But A was wrong. There are others. A has already been wrestling with powerful feelings of love and loneliness. Now comes an understanding of the extremes that love and loneliness can lead to --and what it's like to discover that you are not alone in the world. In Someday, David Levithan takes readers further into the lives of A, Rhiannon, Nathan, and the person they may think they know as Reverend Poole, exploring more deeply the questions at the core of Every Day and Another Day: What is a soul? And what makes us human? Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Tas is an ordinary school boy, but Enya, new from Northern Ireland, has experienced danger and terror. The plot reveals an extraordinary fact about Tas in the final paragraph.

Tired of her responsibilities as the Bellman in Jurisfiction, literary sleuth, Thursday Next, packs up her son, Friday, to return to Swindon. Accompanied by the Danish prince, Hamlet, she finds herself coping with outlaw fictioneer, Yorrick Kaine, anti-Danish sentiment, the return of Swindon's patron saint and a seminal croquet tournament. Sophisticated writing and humour, some coarse language. Usually read by students in Years 9,10 or above.

A troubled girl struggles with a life she doesn't recognise. The boy who poses as her little brother tries to help her unravel the mystery of whether she is possessed, imprisoned or mentally ill. Slowly, the events that led to this terrible trauma, the result of a violent assault, are unravelled as aspects of the harrowing experience are explored. Some very strong language, used in context, may offend some readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

In a series of messages placed in her grandmother's ancestral jar, a seventh century princess and future ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla vents her frustration at not being permitted to study astronomy because she is a girl.

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.

All four books in one.

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 the Birmingham slums. the outcast gangs are creating a new kind of music, with pounding rhythms and wild guitars. Seventeen year old Astor is trained in classical music but, when her life plummets from riches to rags, there is only one way to survive. Charismatic Verrol, once her servant, is now her partner in crime. He could be so much more, if only he'd reveal his past. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Introducing Rob Fitzgerald: thirteen years old and determined to impress the new girl at school, but it's a difficult task for a super-shy kid who is prone to panic attacks that include vomit, and genuine terror that can last all day. An anonymous texter is sending Rob challenges and they might just help. Or not.

From the family farm at the age of 6, to the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army, to Law school in Western Sydney, Deng Adut has undertaken a remarkable journey. Songs of A War Boy is his story, filled with adventure, heart break, and bloodshed, but also with resilience, compassion, and persistence. Deng recounts his experiences as a child soldier in Sudan, and his fight for education and for justice in Australia. A powerful, important book, this memoir is a must read for every Australian.

At the end of the Second World War, Felix struggles to survive in Soviet controlled Poland. He must try to find basic necessities, such as shelter and food, and stay safe from the gangs of youths intent upon ridding Poland of the destitute Jews and Slavs, people who have come to seek refuge. Felix perseveres, always looking for the light at the end of the very dark tunnel and for justice to prevail.

Soraya, the storyteller, keeps her memories of Afghanistan alive while living in uncertainty under temporary protection in Australia. An ebony horse flies through her dreams helping her to find a strange land where she can be safe.

The Dark Elders are summoning as many evil immortals and Elders as possible to capture the twins of legend and retrieve the missing pages of the Codex. The Flamels are gathering allies to fight against them, including some characters presumed dead.

It's winter and Wolf, Torak's beloved pack-brother, has been captured by an unknown foe. In a desperate bid to rescue him, Torak and Renn must brave the frozen wilderness of the Far North. As they battle for survival amid howling blizzards and the ever-present menace of the great white bear, their friendship is tested to breaking point, and Torak is forced to get closer to his enemies than ever before.

A young girl who is going blind sets out on a journey determined to beat the loss of her sight. In her imagination she does amazing things and goes to fabulous places in her quest to gain what she has lost.

A poor, African-American family living in the South in the 1800s find their lives change forever when the father is arrested.

Tim is broke. When a mysterious stranger offers him money for his overcoat, it seems like a stroke of good fortune. But there are worse things than being broke, being shot for one. The Diamond Brothers could soon share the fate of the stranger.

Four children battle the space demons in a dangerous computer game.

Stage adaptation of Rubenstein's novel in which a computer forces children to face their own demons.

A funny story about Eric, who is a ""loser"" and has no luck with girlfriends.

Eleven year old Sam Slater is orphaned and lives in a small house with Ronaldo, the soccer dog, Parrot, the parrot and eccentric Aunt Ashmara. He is soccer mad and a poet.

Evie doesn't have a choice. One day, she's an ordinary girl, grieving for her dead mother. The next day, she's a Shield, the result of a decades-old experiment gone wrong, bound by DNA to defend her best friend from an unknown killer. 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.

Fern Marlow is alone, datawiped and in hiding. Her mobie says she's Delia Greene, a refuse sorter. Every day, she queues to work, to earn enough to stay alive. She dreams of the past and the life she's meant to be living, for those wealthy enough or lucky enough to be genetically designed. Her rescuers said her former life was a lie. They said they'd come back for her but they haven't. Fern doesn't know who to trust or believe. To save herself, Fern must answer the one question she can't face. Usually read by Years 9, 10 or above.

The Special Forces Cadets are tough, smart, and brave as well as being young and all alone in the world. A British secret agent has gone missing in North Korea, where unfamiliar adults would attract suspicion. So the cadets, disguised as a tour group, are sent to investigate. But they forget the key rule: Trust Nobody - and soon they are betrayed to the authorities. Can the cadets locate the missing agent and make it out of the country alive?

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

This book leads you on a wild adventure when Quentaris, a replica of a city from the early 1300s, is lifted from its bedrock by the Spell of Undoing. A saboteur gets the spell wrong and, instead of unravelling the city's prosperity, it lifts the entire city, throws it into a vortex and hurls it through the rift maze and into another world.

Fairy Tale Survival Rule #32: If you find yourself at the mercy of a wicked witch, sing a romantic ballad and wait for your Prince Charming to save the day. Yeah, no thanks. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks - like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the not-so-charming prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future. Talk about unhappily ever after. Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving the kingdom in chaos and her parents stuck in some place called "Kansas." Now it's up to Dorthea and her pixed off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse...before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story.

Raised in a magic family, in a magic community, The son of the most powerful wizard faces an unspeakable challenge. His magic is fading. Can the mysterious stranger in town help him, or is she a spy trying to bring down the entire city. Usually read by students in Year 9, 10 & above.

Ten thrilling true stories about spies and espionage. Contains tales of stealth and deception, every bit as daring as the fictional escapades of James Bond, but far more deadly as the real life spies risk capture, torture and execution.

One frightening day, everything changes in Lu Si-Yan's life. A country Chinese girl whose father dies, Lu Si-Yan is sold by her uncle to work for a family in the big city. She refuses to spend her life in servitude, determined to be reunited with her family.

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.

When Jess goes to stay with her unknown grandmother, she learns of her family's secrets that are about to be repeated with devastating results.

As the Moon of No Dark waxes large, the clans fall prey to a horrifying sickness. Fear stalks the Forest. No one knows the cause and only Torak can find the cure. His quest takes him across the sea to the mysterious islands of the Seal Clan. Here, Torak battles an unseen menace and uncovers a betrayal that will change his life forever.

Spud is angry since her mother died. She is befriended by an old woman who helps her with her grief. A family drama that deals with relationships, friendship and loneliness. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

For years, the local Spook has been keeping the County safe from evil. Now his time is coming to an end and many apprentices have tried to take over. Some floundered, some fled and some failed to stay alive. Thirteen year old Thomas Ward is the last hope. He is the seventh son of a seventh son which means he has special gifts to fight evil. He must defeat Mother Malkin, the most dangerous witch in the County.

In Pendle, the witches are rising and the three most powerful clans are rumoured to be uniting in order to conjure up an unimaginable evil. Tom Ward and the Spook need to avert the unthinkable. But, before they go, the Spook tells Tom to journey home to collect the trunks Mam left behind for him. But, dark family secrets are contained in the trunks which may place Tom's family in even greater danger.

Time is running out for Thomas Ward. His final battle against the Fiend is drawing near, and the Spook's apprentice has never felt more alone in his task. Isolated and afraid, the Fiend is set to send the greatest of his servants against him - Siscoi, a Vampire God more ferocious than anything he has yet faced. Tom must risk his life to prevent the evil beast from entering this world, even as he learns that the final destruction of the Fiend may involve a sacrifice more terrible than he can imagine...

It's the job of the Spook and his apprentice, Thomas Ward, to protect the County from the dark. But, deep in the catacombs below Priestown lurks the Bane, a creature the Spook has never been able to defeat. As they prepare to battle it, yet another deadly enemy emerges to threaten Tom and his master.

A dangerous few months lie ahead--ones which some of us will be hard-pressed to survive. Thomas Ward has served as the Spook's apprentice for three years. He has battled boggarts, witches, demons, and even the devil himself. Tom has enemies: The Fiend stalks him, waiting for a moment of weakness. The terrifying Morrigan, goddess of witches, warned him never to step foot on her homeland, Ireland. But now war has consumed their own country, and Tom, his friend Alice, and the Spook must flee to Ireland. The dark rages strongly there. No one can be trusted. Can Tom defeat the creatures that hunt him most fiercely?

As danger increases, Tom is sent north by his master to be trained by Bill Arkwright, another Spook who lives in a haunted mill on the edge of a treacherous marsh. His training methods are harsh and cruel as he prepares Tom for grave dangers. When the Fiend sends his own daughter, the powerful water witch Morwena, to destroy Tom, Arkwright makes an error of judgement and leaves Tom to face his enemies alone.

The Spook and his apprentice, Thomas Ward, have returned to the county after a long journey and a hard battle. But their troubles are far from over. Their home has been over-run by enemy soldiers. Tom, Alice and the Spook flee across the ocean to the island of Mona. It's on Mona that this small band fighting against the dark will face an old enemy grown terrifyingly powerful. Will they be able to vanquish an evil that crawls beneath the ground itself? At what cost? Will Tom and the Spook ever be able to return home?

"He's the seventh son of a seventh son. His name is Thomas J. Ward and he's my gift to the County. When he's old enough we'll send you word. Train him well. He'll be the best apprentice you've ever had and he'l also be your last." These were the words of Tom's Mam to the county Spook some years ago. As Tom, the Spook and their allies prepare to battle with the Fiend on a huge scale, to finally enact their revenge, it now remains to be seen whether Mam's declaration will come true.

As the Spook's apprentice, Tom's first duty is to protect the County. But, Mam needs his help in Greece, her homeland. One of the old gods, the Ordeen, is about to return, bringing slaughter and devastation. Mam has summoned a powerful group to her side, including Tom's old enemy, the Pendle witches. Tom must find out what secret Mam is keeping from him and decide whether to go against everything the Spook has taught him.

As the nights draw in, the Spook decides to travel to his winter house. His apprentice, Tom, hates the desolate place. There are feral witches in the cellar, menacing creatures stirring on the nearby moors and a sinister stranger threatening Tom's master. Many dangers will face Tom if his master's past and secrets are revealed.

Sprite's life is tough. Her Mum is moody, Dad is away a lot and her little brother should be starting school soon but can barely talk properly. When her Dad leaves, Sprite has to make decisions in order to reunite herself and her brother with their dad.

Nolan Hawker is invited to attend the Peak, the world's most dangerous school. There he learns to crack codes, fly planes and deceive enemies so he can someday infiltrate the deadly anarchist group, Swarm. But Swarm is already inside the Peak, and they have a plan - the kind that no-one walks away from. Does Nolan have what it takes to save his friends, his school, the world?

Imagine finding yourself in the body of a baby, with all the disadvantages that would bring.

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

Kel is physically and mentally preparing herself for the final test in the Chamber of the Ordeal, in which fourth year squires must successfully face their greatest fears before becoming knights.

Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It's the highest military honour in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program. It's not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the "greater good" that Bayt-Sajji's military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined. In this breathtaking and timely story, Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Alice's parents are having problems and she has the lead in the school play. Can her friends help her to get over her stage fright? Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Oskar's loyalty knows no bounds as he waits in an empty war-torn house, surrounded by ghosts, waiting for his family to return.

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose is like no other 'lady' of her time. Living in London during the 1880s, she would rather sneak out to her forbidden uncle's laboratory to study forensic medicine than drink tea and discuss what is considered more polite conversation with whoever her father believes she should be socialising with. When Jack the Ripper brutally strikes, Audrey Rose and her uncle are thrown into the case, but things just don't add up. Does she know the killer? Can Audrey Rose stop him, or will her meddling put her right in line to be the next victim? 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!

Fans have long wondered what happened to Ahsoka after she left the Jedi Order near the end of the Clones Wars, and before she re-appeared as the mysterious Rebel operative Fulcrum in Rebels. Finally, her story will begin to be told. Following her experiences with the Jedi and the devastation of Order 66, Ahsoka is unsure she can be part of a larger whole ever again. But her desire to fight the evils of the Empire and protect those who need it will lead her right to Bail Organa, and the Rebel Alliance... Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a princess who became a legend. Sixteen-year-old Princess Leia Organa is taking survival courses, practicing politics, and spearheading relief missions to worlds under Imperial control. But Leia has worries beyond her claim to the crown. Her parents, Breha and Bail, aren't acting like themselves lately, and determined to uncover her parents' secrets, Leia starts down an increasingly dangerous path that puts her right under the watchful eye of the Empire. When Leia discovers what her parents and their allies are planning behind closed doors, she finds herself facing what seems like an impossible choice; dedicate herself to the people of Alderaan - including the make she loves - or the galaxy at large, which is in desperate need of a rebel hero.

Pilot-in-training Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries, expert on high-altitude life-forms, are invited aboard the Starclimber, a vessel that literally climbs its way into the cosmos. Soon, the ship is surrounded by strange and unsettling life-forms, and the crew is forced to combat devastating mechanical failure. What began as an exciting race to the stars has now turned into a battle to save their lives.

Neither here nor there, but long ago... Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a thief who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp that has the power to revive the barren land, at the cost of sacrificing all jinn. With no choice but to obey or be executed, Loulie journeys with the sultan's oldest son to find the artifact. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 & above

From the moment Stargirl arrives at Mica High School, the students are enchanted but, then, they turn on her because she is so extraordinary.

The universe of the Lunar Chronicles holds stories - and secrets - that are wondrous, vicious, and romantic. How did Cinder first arrive in New Beijing? How did the brooding soldier Wolf transform from young man to killer? When did Princess Winter and the palace guard Jacin realise their destinies? With nine stories - five of which have never before been published - and an exclusive never-before-seen excerpt from Marissa Meyer's upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Stars Above is essential for fans of the bestselling and beloved Lunar Chronicles.

Winter Young is a global pop sensation. Everybody wants tickets to see him. That's why a top-secret government organisation thinks he'll make the perfect spy. His target is infamous business tycoon and bad guy Eli Morrison. Because Morrison's daughter has just one birthday wish: a private concert with Winter Young. Winter must use his stardom to crack his target's inner circle and bring Morrison down. With him will be expert spy Sydney - and she is convinced Winter doesn't have what it takes. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Alice has been twelve for a long time. Ever since she was assaulted, something inside her is broken. She has acquired brain injury and her words are slow and slurred. Alice writes poems to express what she can't say and leaves them in unexpected places for others to read. Sixteen year old Manny, once a child soldier back in his country, appears to be adapting to his new life. He has a poem and knows it off by heart. Alice and Manny weren't meant to meet each other. Mature read. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Maybe Archie Coombes has been watching too many horror movies. All of a sudden, the most ordinary things have taken on a sinister edge: a penny on a doormat. A man in a brown suit under a streetlamp. the persistent sound of an axe chopping in the middle of the night. He keeps telling himself hat this is Seaham, a sleepy seaside town where nothing ever happens. Or at least nothing did, until his dad's construction company opened up the cliff beneath the old - some say cursed - Langdon Place. Soon, though, he and his friends can't deny it: More and more of the adults in town are acting strangely. An ancient, long-buried evil has been unleashed upon the community, and it's up to the kids to stop it before it's too late...

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?

Fire magician, Nisha Fairsight and her friend Tal, hear that a star has fallen from the heavens and taken another form. Archon, the ruler of Quentaris, is offering a reward of 100 gold royals to anyone who finds the fallen star. Nisha and Tal visit threatening rift worlds and sail a boat of fire to the skies in their quest for the missing star.

All her life, Spensa has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she's a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing. Spensa is sure there's more to the story. And she's sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars - and it was terrifying. Everything Spensa has been taught about her world is a lie. But Spensa also discovered a few other things about herself - and she'll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to. Usually read by students in years 9, 10, or above.

Alfie's birthday is one he cannot forget, because it is the day World War I is announced. His life changes as his father enlists. Letters come, eagerly read between his mother, granny and himself. As the letters' cheerful tone changes, mother hides the letters and tells Alfie rather than reads what they contain. Then the letters stop and Alfie begins a mission of his own to find out the truth.

Three loyal teenagers witness a murder and theft of a priceless dinosaur fossil. They are not supposed to be in the National Park at night and are in great danger. An international crime gang is not going to let them get in its way.

Fletcher has it all, with her inherited million-dollar magazine company, hanging with celebrities and servants to cater to her every wish. But money doesn't solve boyfriend, and family issues, so she secretly travels to a quiet island to sort her feelings out.

Stephen Hawking's career was intrinsically tied to his impact on society. He wrote his book, A Brief History of Time, to explain physics not to just scientists, but to anyone who was interested. It made him one of the most famous scientists in the world. Later in his life, as a sufferer of ALS, Hawking became an inspirational story of living with disability, and chasing your dreams regardless. This colourfully illustrated, beautifully designed biography will captivate young readers and teach them what Hawking learned about black holes and time, how he discovered how the universe began, and why he believed that humans must live on other planets. Through his life, it gives an insight into how Hawking's discoveries have changed our understanding of the world around us forever!

Cinderella is about a girl who was bullied; Stepsister is about the bully. We all root for the victims, we want to see them triumph. But what about the bullies? Is there hope for them? Can a mean girl change? Can she find her own happily ever after? 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.

Steve Jobs was a tinkerer. He was also rebellious, did not follow rules and dropped out of college after one semester. At twenty one, he started Apple Computer in his parents' garage and it became the world's most valuable company. Jobs became the tastemaker of a generation, creating products that we now can't live without, while revolutionising the music, phone and tablet computer industries in the process. A graphic biography.

A sequel to Blabbermouth, this book continues the story of Rowena's chaotic life as a teenager who cannot speak aloud yet converses with the reader with her 'voice'.

A lightweight but informative and accurate book comprising chapters that alternate between a humorous history of surfing and sensible advice from Dr Stoke. Excellent illustrations by Jeff Raglus further emphasise the humour.

This gripping fantasy tells the story of Garnet, Jasper and Moon Jewel, Quentaran children, stolen by Nordian traders to sell to the Trollantan rat people. The setting for this fantasy adventure series is the magical city of Quentaris, which is home to a Medieval-style human society, elves, dwarves, water and fire magicians, earth elementals and other amazing creatures who inhabit the fantastical Rift Caves outside the city.

Very funny newspaper full of articles about the stone age. Humour and historical accuracy combined.

Eleven year old Malaak is a Palestinian living in Gaza. She endures the hardships of living in an occupied territory, with soldiers and dangers ever present. Her father has disappeared and her mother raises the family, and keeps their Islamic faith. Malaak has a tame dove which helps her to deal with her sadness. Hamid, her brother, has his own, dangerous way to cope with repression and uncertainty.

While still on her quest to track down and destroy the Beforetime weapon machines, Elspeth Gordie is captured by her old enemies, the Herder Faction. While incarcerated, she learns of a vicious plot to destroy the West Coast by plague. She must track down the deadly plague carrier to prevent a catastrophe. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

As twelve year old George walks out of the London Natural History Museum, he breaks the dragon statue guarding the entrance, unleashing an ancient evil that tries to hunt him down. George has disturbed the balance between the 'taints' and 'spits', the warring statues of London, and he and his companion, Edie, are thrust into a world of danger where nothing is quite what it seems.

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

When Jaq Coblin sees the sand men stealing a stone from the ancient Simesian Stairs, he becomes involved in a chase to find the magician whose aim is to destroy the city.

100 stories, with fun illustrations, about men and boys who have done something unusual or unexpected to make the world a better place. A beautiful and inspiring collection of stories about boys who changed the world without killing a single dragon or saving a single princess.

Boys will be boys and girls will be girls? Not in this book. More extraordinary true stories of amazing Boys and Girls, Women and Men, who broke the mould and changed the world for the better. Have the courage to be yourself, and your dreams might come true....

In tiny Miller's Flat, Mike is stuck at the caravan park helping his mum when he'd rather be with mates. One day, he meets feisty, city girl, Kirsty, who is trying to run away. Together, they escape their boredom and create their own world on a remote beach, beachcombing for treasures and imagining stories about pirates and washed up bodies.

Fourteen year old Alex Rider's guardian dies in suspicious circumstances. Within days Alex goes from schoolboy to superspy. He must take up his uncle's mission and find out the truth behind multi-millionaire Herod Sayle's act of charity.

Fourteen year old Alex Rider's guardian dies in suspicious circumstances. Within days, Alex goes from schoolboy to superspy. He must take up his uncle's mission and find out the truth behind multi-millionaire Herod Sayle's act of charity.

Since his childhood in the Deepwoods, young Twig has always longed to soar above the forest canopy and explore the sky. Now a lowly crew-member on his father's sky pirate ship, the Stormchaser, his dream seems fulfilled. But, a much higher destiny awaits Twig as plots and treacheries bring the lofty city of Sanctaphrax to the point of disaster.

While a storm rages outside, a young girl ponders some of life's big questions.

A small boat drifts on the sea. Far from home, the people inside have lost everything. But at their boat spins slowly on the rising sea, they share a song and a story. A song that keeps their hope alive in their hearts. A song of freedom and a story like the wind.

Find out the real-life stories of the bright sparks behind dozens of ideas and inventions. Includes a glossary of terms and a timeline.

Titania, the Fairy Queen, and Oberon, King of Fairies, fall into a quarrel about who should have charge of a little changeling boy. Oberon and his servant, Puck, cast a spell which causes Titania to fall magically in love with Nick Bottom, a weaver who has been given the head of a donkey. Oberon sees the error of his ways and seeks a way to reverse the spell and restore harmony.

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 two halves of this book combine to bring together a collection of Dreaming stories and stories reminiscent of the author's childhood on Stradbroke Island.

School is over forever and Tiff is hoping her work experience will lead to a job. Driving lessons aren't going too well, Reggie is sick and her best friend has some big news. All of this at the same time as a boy is actually wanting to get to know the real Tiff. Some adult concepts. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Evie is a Shield, designed to kill in order to protect, and the Affinity Project have finally come for her. But, Evie isn't ready for the sinister organisation to take control of her life, her body and her mind. She isn't ready to follow their rules about who may live and who must die, not when it condemns the innocent. She has one option. Risk losing everything and everyone, including Jamie, and run. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

Briar, a plant mage, accompanies his teacher to a barren land to help the farmers. While there he discovers the magical potential of a street urchin. Together, they fight rival street gangs and a wicked, noble woman. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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.

Set in Port Adelaide during the Depression, two friends are affected by the `wharfies' strike of 1928.

In the second of the Dark Materials trilogy, Lyra meets up with Will, a boy from a different world, who is escaping from serious trouble. Together, they set off to find the most powerful weapon in all the worlds. This text includes representations that may be contrary to some religious beliefs.

The year is 1648 and life in Venice is serene for Isabella and her friends Willem, Al-Qasim and Signora Contarini. Together they publish fine books like the controversial encyclopaedia, The Sum of All Knowledge. When a new Inquisitor declares war on free speech, they are forced to flee across the seas to the wondrous capital of the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople.

Every year, Isabel spends a perfect summer at her family friends' house. There's the swimming pool at night, the private stretch of sandy beach and the two boys - unavailable, aloof Conrad and friendly, relaxed Jeremiah. But this year, something is different. They seem to have noticed her for the first time.

Starrphyre is your average, dorky sixteen year old, with one difference. He has a very weird name, thanks to his hippy parents, a radio sex therapist mum and a bass player dad, from a tragic one-hit-wonder 1980s metal band. All Starrphyre wants is one date with his dream girl, Candace McAllister, but so does every other high school guy. Perhaps starting a band with his video-game obsessed pals will do the trick.

Natasha: I'm a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Daniel: I've always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents' high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or 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.

Arthur Penhaligon has wrested five keys from their immortal guardians, but acquiring the sixth key will be the greatest challenge he has faced to date. Will is one step closer to discovering the secret of his identity, the identity of The Architect, the complete Will of the House and the fulfilment of his fate. But, Superior Saturday has been planning how to thwart him for a thousand years.

Clark Kent has always been faster, stronger, better than everyone around him. But he wasn't raised to show off, and drawing attention to himself could be dangerous. Plus, it's not like he's earned his powers . . . yet. Lately it's difficult to hold back and keep his heroics in the shadows. When Clark follows the sound of a girl crying, he discovers a dark secret lurking in Smallville. Teaming up with his best friend, Lana Lang, he throws himself into the pursuit of the truth. What evil lies below the surface of his small town? And what will it cost Clark to step into the light to become the future Man of Steel?

Cosmo is a fourteen year old boy of the third millennium living in an institute for parentally challenged boys. There are only three ways out and Cosmo is running out of time. But, rescue by a motley crew of kids presents new dangers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 and above.

That blonde boy can really surf. Ellie's move ends her relationship with Jamie and leads to a complete change in interests. She is redefining herself as a surfer with a new love interest. Her prowess as a beginner could be due to her dancing or the good genes she has inherited from her mum. Ella learns to cope with being the new kid, with the ex and the potential boyfriend meeting up, and with the adults in her life. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

Brad teaches disabled Matt how to surf and finds himself in a life-threatening situation.

While this story appears to be about the activities of a rebellious boy, there are underlying themes of anger and sadness over the break-up of a family.

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.

Mhairi is walking to Scotland. She has to get there, has to find safety in her grandmother's house. But all she has is a gun with no bullets and her precious identity papers. In this dystopian new world, the journey from the African continent to the top of the UK is fraught with danger. When Mhairi comes across a lone, mute boy she finds kindness within her to help him to safety as well, even though this could jeopardise everything she is working towards.

The noise throws us from our beds. It's too huge to be heard; it bombards us. It's the sound of the end of the world. Leira is about to start her initiation as a priestess when her world is turned upside down. A violent earthquake leaves her home - and her family - in pieces. And the goddess hasn't finished with the island yet. With her family, Leira flees across the sea to Crete, expecting sanctuary. But a volcanic eruption throws the entire world into darkness. After the resulting tsunami, society descends into chaos; the status and privilege of being noble-born reduced to nothing. With her injured mother and elderly nurse, Leira has only the strength and resourcefulness within herself to find safety.

Jose's life is turned upside down when a hurricane hits his tiny village in Honduras, causing mudslides which bury the town. He works against all odds to provide hope and leadership, and to help his family and neighbours survive. Some harrowing scenes. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.

The iconic ballet Swan Lake, the tragic love story of a princess transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer, has been revered for more than a century. In this atmospheric adaptation, Anne Spudvilas reimagines the classic tale of passion, betrayal and heartbreak in the dramatic riverscape of the Murray-Darling.

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

Issues of racism, love and family grief will appeal to more mature readers. Usually read by students in Years 9, 10 or above.

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

A two-day hiking trip through the Canadian Rockies sounds like hell to best friends Ashton and Vale for two very different reasons. Ashton, the class clown, would rather be gaming in his basement and eating junk food than hiking. Vale, a straight-A student who hikes in her own time, shudders at the thought of spending two days stuck with classmates who have relentlessly bullied her for the past few years. But when the two are separated from their classmates and an unexpected snowstorm hits, Ash and Vale find themselves with dwindling supplies and fighting for survival against bears, wolves, and the elements.

The beautifully written retelling of the legend of King Arthur and his knights of the round table.

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

An oath, the protagonist that pushes Uhtred of Bebbanburg from his Northumbrian home into the battle between two brothers. When King Edward dies he splits his kingdom between his two heirs. In a land fraught with battles between Saxons, Danes, and now two kings, the kingdom cannot be born without bloodshed and death of one heir.

Rad is a street lad who yearns to belong to the Thieves' Guild. More than anything he would love to be a guide to heroes journeying to the rift caves but he knows this is well beyond his capabilities. It's while Rad is watching out for the infamous skycrawlers that his chance to become anything he wants is offered to him.

A puzzling, historical account of Sydney's history to the year 2000.

Sylvie's beloved dog, Mr Jackson, has lost his bark. The birds have stopped singing. In the growing silence, her dad, her dear music-making dad, has disappeared. Sylvie and her best friend, George, are drawn into the nightmare world of the songman. Only they can save the earth from its terrible, voiceless fate.

This is the thrilling true story of the life of Russian composer Dimitri Shostakovitch and the millions of Russians who lived during a time of great upheaval, horror and hardship at the hands of two of history's cruellest dictators; Stalin and Hitler. At a time of great despair, Shostakovitch' seventh symphony would become a symbol of great hope, and the story of how it comes to be shared with the world is nearly too incredible to be believed. Usually read by students in years 9, 10 and above.