Readers' Advisory Booklists: October 2025

When dogs start disappearing, brave but undersized Runt vanishes too, right before a big tournament. With a ransom note in hand, Annie, and Max race to solve the mystery. This laugh-out-loud, fast-paced adventure celebrates courage, loyalty, and standing up for what’s right. Perfect for animal lovers and readers of all ages.

In Kill Creatures, Rory Power delivers a chilling tale of obsession and betrayal. When Nan’s missing friend Luce mysteriously returns, secrets unravel in the eerie town of Saltcedar. This psychological thriller explores grief, identity, and the monstrous truths we bury to survive. Recommended for Years 9-12.

In Michael Grant’s Gone series, everyone over fifteen suddenly disappears, leaving teens trapped in a town surrounded by an invisible barrier. As chaos erupts, new powers emerge, and survival becomes deadly. Gripping, fast-paced, and darkly imaginative, this series is perfect for Years 9-12, who love dystopian thrillers and moral dilemmas.

Holes by Louis Sachar is a clever, funny, and moving tale about Stanley Yelnats, a boy sent to a desert detention camp where he and the other boys must dig endless holes. But there’s more to the digging than punishment—there’s a buried secret waiting to be uncovered. Perfect for readers from Year 5.

Scar Town by Tristan Bancks is a tense, fast-paced mystery set in a town slowly sinking under a dam. When Will and his friends uncover a buried safe filled with secrets, they’re drawn into danger that could tear their community apart. Gritty, gripping, and full of heart. Recommended for readers from Year 5.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman is a thrilling, thought-provoking novel set in a future where death has been conquered and only Scythes can end life to keep the balance. When two teens are chosen to apprentice as Scythes, they face impossible choices about morality, power, and humanity. Perfect for readers Years 9-12.