Year 9 Readers' Cup Booklist: Home

Agent 21 SERIES by Chris Ryan Secret agent Zak Darke is back for his third mission - and the stakes have never been higher. An unknown bomber is conducting a terror campaign in London. After an explosion on the tube leaves someone dead, Zak and his team are brought in to try and work out how this terror cell operates - but clues are scarce and they have no idea where, or when, the bomber will strike next. A teenage boy, currently detained in a young offender's institute, claims he has the answer - but before Zak can question him, the boy is shot and falls into a coma. Will Zak be able to break the cipher before the bomber strikes again?

Brilliant by Roddy Doyle; Chris Judge A 'brilliant' middle-grade magical adventure from the world-famous author of The Commitments and The Guts.

Contest by Matthew Reilly The New York Public Library. A silent sanctuary of knowledge; a 100-year-old labyrinth of towering bookcases, narrow aisles and long marble hallways. For Doctor Stephen Swain and his daughter, Holly, it is the site of a nightmare. Because for one night this historic building is to be the venue for a contest. A contest in which Swain is to compete - whether he likes it or not. The rules are simple: Seven contestants will enter, only one will leave. With his daughter in his arms, Stephen Swain is plunged into a terrifying fight for survival. The stakes are high, the odds brutal. He can choose to run, to hide or to fight - but if he wants to live, he has to win. For in this contest, unless you leave as the victor, you do not leave at all. Readers all over the world have been cheering about Matthew Reilly's lightning fast adventure thrillers. "Contest," the action-packed extravaganza that launched this international bestselling career, is vintage Reilly at his explosive best.

The Debt SERIES by Phillip Gwynne Pay the debt or lose a pound of flesh. It's a beautiful day in paradise. The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. And Dom Silvagni, indifferent student and elite middle-distance runner, is turning fifteen. But Instead of cake and candles, Dom Silvagni is presented with the most unlikely gift for his birthday: an ancient family debt to an organisation so secretive and powerful, they are only known as The Debt. The Debt's terms are not negotiable: Dom must perform six Herculean tasks or they'll take a pound of flesh. Before long Dom has his first instalment - Catch The Zolt—the seventeen-year-old Facebook Bandit with a penchant for stealing light aircraft. But getting close to The Zolt means being nice to the smug, self-obsessed Tristan, and involving Imogen, the only girl close to Dom's heart. The more Dom discovers, the less he seems to know. Meanwhile The Debt want their payment ... now!

Jason Bourne SERIES by Robert Ludlum He was dragged from the sea, his body riddled with bullets, his memory gone. There are a few clues: a frame of microfilm surgically implanted beneath the skin of his hip; evidence that plastic surgery has altered his face; strange things he says in his delirium, which could be code words. And a number on the film negative that leads to a bank account in Zurich, four million dollars, and a name for the amnesiac: Jason Bourne. Now he is running for his life. A man with an unknown past and an uncertain future, the target of assassins and at the heart of a deadly puzzle. He's fighting for survival and no one can help him - except the one woman who once wanted to escape him.

John Corey SERIES by Nelson Demille It's one of the most dangerous and volatile countries in the world: Yemen. A Middle Eastern hotbed of corruption and insurgency and the perfect training ground for Islamic terrorists. When Anti-Terrorist Task Force agent John Corey and his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield are assigned to overseas posts in Sana'a, Yemen's capital city, they are tasked with hunting down a high-ranking Al Qaeda operative. This man, known as Othman, is wanted for terrorist acts and multiple murders ... and the CIA is convinced that he is planning a spectacular attack on the Americans stationed in Yemen. John and Kate quickly realize they are latecomers to a dangerous game that has been going on for years; they don't know the rules or what the score is. What they do know is that there is more to their assignment that meets the eye ... and that the hunters are about to become the hunted.

Nowhere SERIES by Jon Robinson Alyn, Jes, Ryan and Elsa are Nowhere. A concrete cube in the middle of a dense forest. Imprisoned inside are one hundred teenagers from all over the country. They're all criminals. But none of them remember committing any crimes. Who has put them there. What do their captors want? And how will they ever break free...?

Paladin Prophecy SERIES by Mark Frost Will West is careful to live life under the radar. At his parents' insistence, he's made sure to get mediocre grades and to stay in the middle of the pack on his cross-country team. Then Will slips up, accidentally scoring off the charts on a nationwide exam, and he is recruited by an exclusive and mysterious prep school - the best school no one's ever heard of, with technology the likes of which no one's ever seen. At the same time, coincidentally - or not so - Will realizes he's being followed by men in dark hats, driving black sedans who pose a terrifying threat to his family. What follows is a series of events and revelations that places Will smack in the middle of a millennia old struggle between titanic forces ...

Accidental Apprentice by Vikas Swarup What would you do if, out of the blue, a billionaire industrialist decided to make you the CEO of his company? No prior business experience necessary. There is only one catch: you need to pass seven tests from the 'textbook of life'. This is the offer made to Sapna Sinha, an ordinary salesgirl in an electronics boutique in downtown Delhi, by Vinay Mohan Acharya, one of India's richest men. Thus begins the most challenging journey of Sapna's life, one that will test her character, her courage and her capabilities. Along the way she encounters a host of memorable personalities, from a vain Bollywood superstar to a kleptomaniac Gandhian. At stake is a business empire worth ten billion dollars, and the future she has always dreamt of. But are the seven tests for real or is Acharya playing a deeper game, one driven by a perverse fantasy? From the acclaimed author of Slumdog Millionaire comes this compelling, suspenseful tale of the power of dreams, the lure of money and the universal need to know who we are.

Chalkline by Jane Mitchell "Rafiq is only nine when Kashmiri Freedom Fighters raid his village in search of new recruits. Tall for his age, he is the first boy to cross the chalk line into a life of brutality and violence"--Page 4 of cover.

The Divine Wind by Garry Disher A thrilling new novel set in Broome during WWII.

New Gold Mountain by Christopher Cheng Shu Cheong works on the goldfields at Lambing Flat, the time is 1860, and he witnesses hatred and brutality towards his people. This is his story ...

The Rainbow Troops by Andrea Hirata

The Tiffin by Mahtab Narsimhan "Every day in the vast and vibrant city of Bombay, thousands of dabbawalla delivery-men transport hundreds of thousands of freshly prepared lunches in tiffin boxes. When a secret note placed in a tiffin box goes astray, the consequences for a young boy are devastating. Separated from his mother and forced to work as a slave in a cafe, Kunal is sure that if he could just find his family, his life and his fortunes would change forever. Kunal vows to find his mother - and it seems the answer may lie with the tiffins once more. If a lost note was the beginning of his destiny, can he use another to change it? "--Publisher description.

Alone on a Wide Wide Sea by Michael Morpurgo When six-year-old orphan Arthur Hobhouse is shipped to Australia after WW II he loses everything he knows - Overcoming enormous hardships with fellow orphan Marty, Arthur is finally saved by the extraordinary people he meets and his talent for boat-design and sailing - He still yearns however for news of his long-lost sister.

Cloudstreet by Tim Winton Hailed as a classic, Tim Winton's masterful family saga is both a paean to working-class Australians and an unflinching examination of the human heart's capacity for sorrow, joy, and endless gradations in between. An award-winning work, Cloudstreet exemplifies the brilliant ability of fiction to captivate and inspire. Struggling to rebuild their lives after being touched by disaster, the Pickle family, who've inherited a big house called Cloudstreet in a suburb of Perth, take in the God-fearing Lambs as tenants. The Lambs have suffered their own catastrophes, and determined to survive, they open up a grocery on the ground floor. From 1944 to 1964, the shared experiences of the two overpopulated clans -- running the gamut from drunkenness, adultery, and death to resurrection, marriage, and birth -- bond them to each other and to the bustling, haunted house in ways no one could have anticipated.

Currawalli Street by Christopher Morgan A beguiling celebration of the extraordinary in ordinary people's lives, this gently moving and beautifully written novel tells the stories of the people of Currawalli Street across the generations. It's a modern classic in the making that will stay with you long after the last page is turned.

The Soldier's Curse by Meg and Tom Keneally This is a fast-paced, witty and gripping historical crime series. In the Port Macquarie penal settlement for second offenders, gentleman convict Hugh Monsarrat hungers for freedom. Originally transported for forging documents passing himself off as a lawyer, he is now the trusted clerk of the settlement's commandant. His position has certain advantages, such as being able to spend time in the Government House kitchen, being supplied with outstanding cups of tea by housekeeper Hannah Mulrooney, who is his most intelligent companion. Not long after the commandant heads off in search of a rumoured river, his beautiful wife, Honora, falls ill with a sickness the doctor is unable to identify. When Honora dies, it becomes clear she has been slowly poisoned. Monsarrat and Mrs Mulrooney suspect the commandant's second-in-command, Captain Diamond, a cruel man who shares history with Honora. Then Diamond has Mrs Mulrooney arrested for the murder. Knowing his friend will hang if she is tried, Monsarrat knows he must find the real killer.

Voyage to Botany Bay by Chrissie Michaels I dared not move ... I was a bread stealer. A chicken feather villain. A salted mutton thief. I guiltily recalled the paper, the ink, the leather pouch I had stolen. And even though I had not intended it so ... I was a stowaway. Julienne roams the fortress tunnels of Brest, France, cold, hungry and knowing only one thing about herself-her name. Soon she must abandon even that remnant of her identity. She becomes Jules, ship's boy, journeying to Botany Bay and beyond on a voyage of discovery for the glory of France, led by Commander Laperouse. Jules/Julienne sees new and strange things on board the Boussole, but what she would most like to discover is her own history: who is Julienne Fulbert?

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, Edmond Dantès spends;14 bitter years in a dungeon. When his daring escape plan works he uses all he has learned during his incarceration to mastermind an elaborate plan of revenge that will bring punishment to those he holds responsible for his fate. No longer the naïve sailor who disappeared into the dark fortress all those years ago, he reinvents himself as the charming, mysterious, and powerful Count of Monte Cristo.

Island by Aldous Huxley For over a hundred years the Pacific island of Pala has been the scene of a unique experiment in civilisation. Its inhabitants live in a society where western science has been brought together with eastern philosophy and humanism to create a paradise on earth. When cynical journalist Will Farnaby arrives to search for information about potential oil reserves on Pala, he quickly falls in love with the way of life on the island. Soon the need to complete his mission becomes an intolerable burden ... In counterpoint to Brave New World and Ape and Essence, in Island Huxley gives us his vision of utopia.

The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas The final episode in the saga of "The Three Musketeers" finds Artemis attempting a royal coup. Philippe, the "Man in the Iron Mask", has been a prisoner in the Bastille for 18 years. He is also King Louis' twin brother. Artemis wants him on the throne, but D'Artagnan cannot allow it.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain 'All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.' - Ernest Hemingway Of all the contenders for the title of The Great American Novel, none has a better claim than The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Intended at first as a simple story of a boy's adventures in the Mississippi Valley-a sequel to Tom Sawyer-the book grew and matured under Twain's hand into a work of immeasurable richness and complexity. More than a century after its publication, the critical debate over the symbolic significance of Huck's and Jim's voyage is still fresh, and it remains a major work that can be enjoyed at many levels- as an incomparable adventure story and as a classic of American humor. John Seelye's introduction discusses the context from which the novel emerged. Introduction by JOHN SEELYE Notes by GUY CARDWELL

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins; Matthew Sweet The Woman in Whitefamously opens with Walter Hartright's eerie encounter on a moonlit London road. Engaged as a drawing master to the beautiful Laura Fairlie, Walter is drawn into the sinister intrigues of Sir Percival Glyde and his 'charming' friend Count Fosco, who has a taste for white mice, vanilla bonbons and poison. Pursuing questions of identity and insanity along the paths and corridors of English country houses and the madhouse, The Woman in Whiteis the first and most influential of the Victorian genre that combined Gothic horror with psychological realism. Matthew Sweet's introduction explores the phenomenon of Victorian 'sensation' fiction, and discusses Wilkie Collin's biographical and societal influences. Included in this edition are appendices on theatrical adaptations of the novel ands its serialisation history.

Alex Delillo SERIES by Scott Frost Reminiscent of the best of today's thrillers - from Jeffrey Deaver to Michael Connelly - RUN THE RISKis the second explosive Lieutenant Alex Delillo novel to be published by Headline.

The Great Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle A collection of eight mysteries featuring detective Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Simon Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. One of his fellow passengers must be the murderer. Isolated by the storm and with a killer in the midst, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer amongst a dozen of the dead man's enemies, before the murderer decides to strike again ...

The Spy Who Changed the World by Mike Rossiter When the three leaders of the victorious allies, Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union, met at Potsdam in July 1945, President Truman announced to Stalin that the US had a new and devastating weapon. Observers report that Stalin paid no attention to this remark. In fact, Stalin was well aware of the existence of the atomic bomb, and the Soviet Union was rapidly developing its own. Stalin owed his knowledge to the atomic scientist Dr Klaus Fuchs, who can lay claim to being the most successful spy in history. A refugee from Nazi Germany, entrusted with crucial work at the very heart of the British and American nuclear weapons project, Fuchs gave every piece of information he had to the KGB, the Russian intelligence agency. Then in 1950, his spy mission complete, he made an unprompted confession to MI6. His espionage accelerated the start of the Cold War between Russia and the West, and caused a split between the US and British governments that forced Britain to build its own atomic weapons. The world that Fuchs helped create remained in the grip of a nuclear stand off for a generation. The Spy Who Changed the World uses previously unseen archive documents to bring to life one of the most compelling spy stories on the twentieth century.

Transfer of Power by Vince Flynn From a bestselling author of political fiction, a fast-paced, shattering thriller that carries us just beyond today's headlines.

Red Queen Trilogy SERIES by Victoria Aveyard Aveyard sets her audience up for a gaspworthy twist that reconfigures nearly every character's role and leaves Mare with no one to trust but herself... This blend of fantasy and dystopia will be an unexpected and worthy addition to many genre fans' reading list.

The Maze Runner SERIES by James Dashner Read the first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent. The Maze Runner, and its sequel The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, are now major motion pictures featuring the star of MTV's Teen Wolf, Dylan O'Brien; Kaya Scodelario; Aml Ameen; Will Poulter; and Thomas Brodie-Sangster! Also look for James Dashner's newest novels, The Eye of Minds and The Rule of Thoughts, the first two books in the Mortality Doctrine series.   If you ain't scared, you ain't human.   When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.   Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.   Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.   Everything is going to change.   Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.   Remember. Survive. Run. Praise for the Maze Runner series: A #1 New York Times Bestselling Series A USA Today Bestseller A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year An ALA-YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick   "[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Lost."--EW.com   "Wonderful action writing--fast-paced...but smart and well observed."--Newsday   "[A] nail-biting must-read."--Seventeen.com   "Breathless, cinematic action."--Publishers Weekly   "Heart pounding to the very last moment."--Kirkus Reviews   "Exclamation-worthy."--Romantic Times   [STAR] "James Dashner's illuminating prequel [The Kill Order] will thrill fans of this Maze Runner [series] and prove just as exciting for readers new to the series."--Shelf Awareness, Starred "Take a deep breath before you start any James Dashner book."-Deseret News

Illuminae File SERIES by Amie Kaufman; Jay Kristoff For fans of Marie Lu comes the first book in an epic series that bends the sci-fi genre into a new dimension.    "A truly beautiful novel that redefines the form." --Victoria Aveyard, bestselling author of Red Queen This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she'd have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.       The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that's little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra--who are barely even talking to each other--are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit.      But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet's AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it's clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.       Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents--including emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more--Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.   "Prepare yourselves for Illuminae." --EW.com   "[Y]ou're not in for an ordinary novel experience. . . ."  --Bustle.com   "A truly interactive experience. . . . A fantastically fun ride." --MTV.com   ★ "[O]ut-of-this-world awesome." --Kirkus Reviews, starred   ★ "...stylistically mesmerizing." --Publishers Weekly, starred   ★ "[A]n arresting visual experience."--Booklist, starred    ★ "[A] game-changer." --Shelf Awareness, starred "Brace yourself. You're about to be immersed in a mindscape that you'll never want to leave."  --Marie Lu, bestselling author of the Legend trilogy   "Genre: Undefinable. Novel: Unforgettable." --Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of Beautiful Creatures & author of Unbreakable   "An exuberant mix of space opera, romance, zombies, hackers, and political thrills."  --Scott Westerfeld, bestselling author of  Zeroes and Uglies   "Stunningly creative. Smart, funny, and romantic."  --Veronica Rossi, bestselling author of Under the Never Sky   "This is one of those rare books that will truly keep your heart pounding." --Beth Revis, bestselling author of Across the Universe   "This book is xxxxing awesome." --Laini Taylor, bestselling author of Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Lorien Legacies SERIES by Pittacus Lore They killed Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya. John Smith is not your average teenager. He regularly moves from small town to small town. He changes his name and identity. He does not put down roots. He cannot tell anyone who or what he really is. If he stops moving those who hunt him will find and kill him.

Silverwing Trilogy SERIES by Kenneth Oppel 65 million years ago: the last dinosaurs are dying out, the mammals are beginning to take over the earth and the very first bats are learning how to fly. Dusk, a chiropter - a small arboreal glider - discovers an unusual ability. The only member of his colony capable of powered flight, Dusk becomes an outcast.

Reckoners SERIES by Brandon Sanderson The #1 New York Times bestseller that James Dashner called "fantastic," with "relentless" suspense and an "explosive" climax from Brandon Sanderson, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Words of Radiance, coauthor of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, and creator of the internationally bestselling Mistborn trilogy. And don't miss the rest of the Reckoners series: Firefight and Calamity!    Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary people extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.    Epics are no friends of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man, you must crush his will.    Now, in what was once Chicago, an astonishingly powerful Epic named Steelheart has installed himself as emperor. Steelheart possesses the strength of ten men and can control the elements. It is said that no bullet can harm him, no sword can split his skin, and no fire can burn him. He is invincible. Nobody fights back . . . nobody but the Reckoners.    A shadowy group of ordinary humans, the Reckoners spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them. And David wants in.    When Steelheart came to Chicago, he killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David has been studying, and planning, and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.    He has seen Steelheart bleed.    And he wants revenge. Praise for the Reckoners Series: #1 New York Times Bestselling Series "The suspense is relentless and the climax explosive." --James Dashner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Maze Runner series "Another win for Sanderson . . . he's simply a brilliant writer. Period." --Patrick Rothfuss, author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The Name of the Wind   "Action-packed." --EW.com   "Compelling. . . . Sanderson uses plot twists that he teases enough for readers to pick up on to distract from the more dramatic reveals he has in store." --The A.V. Club

Twinmaker SERIES by Sean Williams If you could be anywhere in a moment, where would you go? If you could change your appearance in a minute, what would you choose? If you discovered something was very wrong with this perfect world, what would you do? Action and danger fuel this near-future thriller in a fresh take on technology, identity, and the lengths one girl will go to save her best friend. 'A thrilling, existential head-trip' - Alaya Dawn Johnson. Claire lives in a world revolutionised by d-mat, a global teleport system that allows people to transport themselves instantaneously around the world. When a coded note promises improvement - the chance to change your body any way you want, making it stronger, taller, more beautiful - Claire thinks it's too good to be true, but her best friend, Libby, is determined to give it a try. What starts as Libby's dream turns into Claire's nightmare when Libby falls foul of a deadly trap. With the help of Jesse, the school freak, and a mysterious online friend called Q, Claire's attempt to protect Libby leads her to an unimagined world of conspiracies and cover-ups. Soon her own life is at risk, and Claire is chased across the world in a desperate race against time.

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham The triffids are a monstrous species of stinging plant; they walk, they talk, they dominate the world. The narrator of this novel wakes up in hospital to find that, by missing the end of the world, he has survived to witness a new world. But the new world that awaits him is fantastic and horrific.

The 5th Wave SERIES by Rick Yancey After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Brick Lane by Mónica Ali Still in her teenage years, Nazneen finds herself in an arranged marriage with a disappointed man who is twenty years older. Away from the mud and heat of her Bangladeshi village, home is now a cramped flat in a high-rise block in London's East End. Nazneen knows not a word of English, and is forced to depend on her husband. But unlike him she is practical and wise, and befriends a fellow Asian girl Razia, who helps her understand the strange ways of her adopted new British home. Nazneen keeps in touch with her sister Hasina back in the village. But the rebellious Hasina has kicked against cultural tradition and run off in a 'love marriage' with the man of her dreams. When he suddenly turns violent, she is forced into the degrading job of garment girl in a cloth factory. Confined in her flat by tradition and family duty, Nazneen also sews furiously for a living, shut away with her buttons and linings - until the radical Karim steps unexpectedly into her life. On a background of racial conflict and tension, they embark on a love affair that forces Nazneen finally to take control of her fate. Strikingly imagined, gracious and funny, this novel is at once epic and intimate. Exploring the role of Fate in our lives - those who accept it; those who defy it - it traces the extraordinary transformation of an Asian girl, from cautious and shy to bold and dignified woman.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M. T. Anderson Various diaries, letters, and other manuscripts chronicle the experiences of Octavian, a young African American, from birth to age sixteen, as he is brought up as part of a science experiment in the years leading up to and during the Revolutionary War. It sounds like a fairy tale. He is a boy dressed in silks and white wigs and given the finest of classical educations. Raised by a group of rational philosophers known only by numbers, the boy and his mother -- a princess in exile from a faraway land -- are the only persons in their household assigned names. As the boy's regal mother, Cassiopeia, entertains the house scholars with her beauty and wit, young Octavian begins to question the purpose behind his guardians' fanatical studies. Only after he dares to open a forbidden door does he learn the hideous nature of their experiments -- and his own chilling role in them. Set against the disquiet of Revolutionary Boston, M.T. Anderson's extraordinary novel takes place at a time when American Patriots rioted and battled to win liberty while African slaves were entreated to risk their lives for a freedom they would never claim. The first of two parts, this deeply provocative novel reimagines the past as an eerie place that has startling resonance for readers today.

Jack of Diamonds by Bryce Courtenay Born and raised in a poor, working-class family in Toronto, Jack Spayd is the son of an unhappy marriage. But when he is given a harmonica as a young boy, he discovers a talent for music that will change his life forever. After being taken under the wing of 'Miss Frostbite', the owner of a local jazz club, Jack becomes a gifted musician, playing piano and harmonica. After the death of his mother, he travels to Las Vegas and finds work in the clubs there, but is increasingly drawn to gambling. He earns a reputation as a good player, which brings him to the attention of the mafia. Jack wants to join the professional circuit, and to do that he needs serious money behind him. It's this need that sees him travel to the Belgian Congo, where he's heard it's possible to earn big money working in the most dangerous parts of the local copper mines. He gradually falls in love with Africa - and then with a beautiful Ethiopian woman. They move to London, where they bring up a daughter who becomes a supermodel. In a dramatic twist, the story returns to Africa - and to a fortune in diamonds. Jack of Diamonds is the story of a young, talented man, fighting to achieve his ambitions, and having to use his considerable talents to find his way in a perilous world.

Harry Mac by Russell Eldridge "I can't help feeling the lane where we lived had something to do with it all. As though these families had been put there for a reason. . . it was so still, like everyone was holding their breath a lot of the time." Tom and Millie are best friends who live in a quiet lane on the edge of town and rely on each other to make sense of what's going on in their lives--especially Harry Mac's. Harry Mac, Tom's dad, is a man of silences and secrets. And now Tom is involved in one of those secrets. At school, Tom sits through lessons on the arms race and President Kennedy, waiting until he can be back on the lane, where life is far more interesting: why does a black car drive slowly up the lane every night? And what did Harry Mac mean when he wrote in his newspaper "people disappear in the night?" Set within a fascinating period of South African politics, this coming-of-age story is full of heart, soul, and hope, in the tradition of Jasper Jones and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Sleeping Dogs by Sonya Hartnett A young artist, befriended by young Oliver Willows, becomes intent on discovering the Willows' family secrets.

Fifteen Bones by R.J Morgan Jake is not a bad person. But now he's been expelled again and there's only one school left that'll take him. This is his last chance. But Jake is drowning in grief - and he is ready to self-destruct. Until he meets Robin, the girl next-door. Perhaps, in helping her, he can save himself...

Holding up the Universe by Jennifer Niven New York Times' Bestseller - From the author of the New York Times bestseller All the Bright Places comes a heart-wrenching story about what it means to see someone--and love someone--for who they truly are. Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed "America's Fattest Teen." But no one's taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom's death, she's been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby's ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for EVERY POSSIBILITY LIFE HAS TO OFFER. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything. Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he's got swagger, but he's also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can't recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He's the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything in new and bad-ass ways, but he can't understand what's going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don't get too close to anyone. Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game--which lands them in group counseling and community service--Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. . . . Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours. Jennifer Niven delivers another poignant, exhilarating love story about finding that person who sees you for who you are--and seeing them right back. "Niven is adept at creating characters. . . . [Libby's] courage and body-positivity make for a joyful reading experience." --The New York Times "Holding Up the Universe . . . taps into the universal need to be understood. To be wanted. And that's what makes it such a remarkable read."--TeenVogue.com, "Why New Book Holding Up the Universe Is the Next The Fault in Our Stars" "Want a love story that will give you all the feels? . . . You'll seriously melt!" --Seventeen Magazine

Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel In 1973, when a renowned Canadian behavioral psychologist pursues his latest research project--an experiment to determine whether chimpanzees can acquire advanced language skills--he brings home a baby chimp named Zan and asks his thirteen-year-old son to treat Zan like a little brother.

Wonder by R.J Palacio This is a funny, sweet and incredibly moving story of Auggie Pullman. Born with a terrible facial abnormality, this shy, bright ten-year-old has been home-schooled by his parents in an attempt to protect him from the stares and cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, Auggie is being sent to a real school - and he is dreading it.

Highly Illogical Behaviour by John Corey Whaley Sixteen year old Solomon has agoraphobia. He hasn't left his house in three years, which is fine by him. At home, he is the master of his own kingdom--even if his kingdom doesn't extend outside of the house. Ambitious Lisa desperately wants to go to a top tier psychiatry program. She'll do anything to get in. When Lisa finds out about Solomon's solitary existence, she comes up with a plan sure to net her a scholarship: befriend Solomon. Treat his condition. And write a paper on her findings. To earn Solomon's trust, Lisa begins letting him into her life, introducing him to her boyfriend Clark, and telling him her secrets. Soon, Solomon begins to open up and expand his universe. But all three teens have grown uncomfortably close, and when their facades fall down, their friendships threaten to collapse as well.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon The Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller If you love Eleanor and Park, Hazel and Augustus, and Mia and Adam, you'll love the story of Maddy, a girl who's literally allergic to the outside world, and Olly, the boy who moves in next door . . . and becomes the greatest risk she's ever taken. This innovative and heartfelt debut novel unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, illustrations, and more.   My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I'm allergic to the world. I don't leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.   But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He's tall, lean and wearing all black--black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.   Maybe we can't predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It's almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Dresden Files SERIES by Jim Butcher Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago's first (and only) Wizard P.I. Turns out the 'everyday' world is full of strange and magical things - and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Harry is the best at what he does - and not just because he's the only one who does it. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal capabilities, they look to him for answers. There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get ... interesting. Magic - it can get a guy killed.

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey Melanie is a very special girl. Dr. Caldwell calls her "our little genius." Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh. Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad. The Girl with All the Gifts is a sensational thriller, perfect for fans of Stephen King, Justin Cronin, and Neil Gaiman.

The Mortal Instruments SERIES by Cassandra Clare Shadowhunters and demons square off for the final showdown in the spellbinding, seductive conclusion to the #1 New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series. Darkness has descended on the Shadowhunter world. Chaos and destruction overwhelm the Nephilim as Clary, Jace, Simon, and their friends band together to fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother. Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell. Nothing in this world can defeat Sebastian-but if they journey to the realm of demons, they just might have a chance... Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world will change. Who will survive the explosive sixth and final installment of the Mortal Instruments series?

It by Stephen King "Previously published in a Viking edition. A limited first edition of this book has been published by Phantasia Press"--T.p. verso.

Rot and Ruin SERIES by Jonathan Maberry In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, fifteen-year-old Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter.

Death & Co SERIES by D.J McCune Adam is a Luman, and it runs in the family. Escorting the dead from life into light, Adam must act as guide to those taken before their time. As his older brothers fall into their fate however, Adam clings to his life as a normal kid - one who likes girls, hates the Head and has a pile of homework to get through by Monday morning. When Adam gets a terrible premonition he realises that he must make a devastating choice, risking his life, his family and his destiny.

Me, Antman and Fleabag by Gayle Kennedy Hilarious, quirky characters and wicked black humor abound in this fictional account of contemporary rural Australia. An aboriginal woman, her partner, Antman, and their dog, Fleabag, take off on a spirited road trip across Australia, encountering eccentric aunts, six-fingered redheads, and martyrs to the cause of sheep well-being, enjoying along the way all the good things in life—family, laughter, and love. This unique tale offers an incisive and side-splitting look at modern indigenous life and the family and friends that comprise it.

A New Kind of Dreaming by Anthony Eaton A powerful mystery from award-winning author Anthony Eaton, this edition of A New Kind of Dreaming is a special reissue of a modern Australian classic   Jamie Riley has hit rock bottom. Busted for stealing cars, he's been shipped off to serve time in Port Barren, a stinking hot town stuck between the desert and the sea. The minute Jamie arrives, he can feel something is not quite right about Port Barren--the town has a past it doesn't want to share. After being warned that Port Barren is his last chance before jail, Jamie resolves to serve his time and get out. But when he discovers an old, wrecked boat on the beach and starts asking questions, it becomes obvious that local cop Elliot Butcher has it in for him. As he gets closer to the truth, things start going wrong around town. With no one else to blame, Jamie realizes surviving Port Barren is going to be way harder than he thought.

Nona and Me by Clare Atkins Rosie and Nona are sisters. They are also best friends. It doesn't matter that Rosie is white and Nona is Aboriginal: their family connections tie them together for life. Born just five days apart in a remote corner of the Northern Territory, the girls are inseperable, until Nona moves away at the age of nine. By the time she returns, they're in Year 10 and things have changed. Rosie has lost interest in the community, preferring to hang out in the nearby mining town, where she goes to school with the glamorous Selena, and Selena's gorgeous older brother Nick. When a political announcement highlights divisions between the Aboriginal community and the mining town, Rosie is put in a difficult position: will she be forced to choose between her first love and her oldest friend?

The Secret River by Kate Grenville In 1806 William Thornhill, an illiterate English bargeman and a man of quick temper but deep compassion, steals a load of wood and, as a part of his lenient sentence, is deported, along with his beloved wife, Sal, to the New South Wales colony in what would become Australia. The Secret River is the tale of William and Sal’s deep love for their small, exotic corner of the new world, and William’s gradual realization that if he wants to make a home for his family, he must forcibly take the land from the people who came before him. Acclaimed around the world, The Secret River is a magnificent, transporting work of historical fiction.

Serpent Dust by Debra Adelaide What was it like that day when the First Fleet sailed into Port Jackson? What was it like for those on board, and those who watched from the shore? Within two years of the Fleet's arrival, those watchers had suffered the shocking ravages of smallpox, their numbers decimated. The disease spread to Aboriginal people throughout the country with devastating results. But how did smallpox arrive in Australia? Vivid and deeply moving, Serpent's Dust explores the paradoxes of white attitudes and the tragedies of white occupation. it is a story of secrets, betrayal and frustrated ambition, grippingly told.

Goal! by Robert Rigby A story of a young Latino boy, who is spotted by an ex-scout, playing in a park in Los Angeles, and wins himself a trial at one of England's Premier League clubs - Newcastle United. Struggling to cope with the Northern weather, the rivalries and jealousies from other players and dodgy scouts, he has just this one shot at fulfilling his dream.

Indo Dreaming by Neil Grant A young man journeys through Indonesia as he tries to explain the tragic death of his fellow surfing friend in this fascinating coming-of-age novel. When Goog loses Castro to a massive wave in the Indian Ocean, he begins a physical and emotional adventure to figure out how mysterious postcards from his dead friend continue to appear. With powerful themes of identity, independence, and friendship, this spirited travelogue offers a wild and gritty tale of growing up. A helpful map of Indonesia is included for tracing Goog's journey.

Just Add Water by Clay Marzo; Robert Yehling From the best freestyle surfer in the world, an inspiring and moving memoir about his ascendance to the top of the surfing world while struggling for most of his young life with undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome Clay Marzo has an almost preternatural gift with a surfboard. From his first moments underwater (he learned to swim at two months old) to his first ventures atop his father's surfboard as a toddler, it was obvious that Marzo's single-minded focus on all things surfing was unique. But not until late in his teens, when this surfing phenom was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, did the deeper reasons for his obsession--and his astonishing gift for surfing--becomeclear. Just Add Water is the remarkable story of Marzo's rise to the top of the pro surfing world--and the personal trials he overcame in making it there. Marzo endured a difficult childhood. He was a colicky baby who his mother found could be soothed only with water. Later, as he entered school, his undiagnosed Asperger's made it tough for him to relate to his peers and fit in, but his relationship with the wave was elemental. Marzo could always turn to surfing, the only place where he truly feltat peace. Unflinching and inspiring,Just Add Wateris a brave memoir from a one-of-a-kind surfing savant who has electrified fans around the world with his gift and whose story speaks boldly to the hope and ultimate triumph of the human spirit.

Measuring Up by G. J. Stroud Jonah’s life has been like riding the perfect wave--the wonderfully simple routine of school, partying, and surfing with his friends. With the stress of his senior year looming, he realizes all of that is about to change. Rattled by the fear that he is destined to live in the shadow of his legendary older brother, Link, Jonah’s self-confidence begins to waver, along with his mission to lose his virginity before turning 18. Just when he has decided things couldn't get any more complicated, Link drops a bombshell on his unsuspecting family. Despite these overwhelming transitions, Jonah soon discovers that life has a funny way of sorting out the big issues from the small, and that the answers he’s looking for may be right in front of him. Frank and funny, this coming-of-age novel is a definitive tale of family, friendship, and the pressures of adolescence.

Three-Quarter Man by Sam Bramham Sam had his right leg amputated at the age of five but has never let his disability get in the way of his dreams, or to quell his larrikin spirit. He caused an international incident at one Paralympics after convincing a pesky American journalist that his leg was chewed off by a kangaroo, and spent a night in the slammer after he and his stupid mates faked a shark attack on a packed NSW beach. He's a hilarious example of how youthful exuberance can go spectacularly wrong when you've only got one leg. Despite the shenanigans, Sam is an inspiration to all. He is perhaps the only reprobate to be awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to his country and for being a role model for Australian youth. With his competitive spirit still burning, Three- Quarter Man sees Sam on the road to Rio in his quest to win gold in the first ever Paralympic triathlon.

Winger by Andrew Smith A teen at boarding school grapples with life, love, and rugby in a heartbreakingly funny novel. Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy. With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart. Filled with hand-drawn infographics and illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen’s experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.

Songs of a War Boy by Deng Thiak Adut The true story of Deng Adut - Sudanese child soldier, refugee, man of hope Deng Adut's family were farmers in South Sudan when a brutal civil war altered his life forever. At six years old, his mother was told she had to give him up to fight. At the age most Australian children are starting school , Deng was conscripted into the Sudan People's Liberation Army. He began a harsh, relentless military training that saw this young boy trained to use an AK-47 and sent into battle. He lost the right to be a child. He lost the right to learn. The things Deng saw over those years will stay with him forever. He suffered from cholera, malaria and numerous other debilitating illnesses but still he had to fight. A child soldier is expected to kill or be killed and Deng almost died a number of times. He survived being shot in the back. The desperation and loneliness was overwhelming. He thought he was all alone. But Deng was rescued from war by his brother John. Hidden in the back of a truck, he was smuggled out of Sudan and into Kenya. Here he lived in refugee camps until he was befriended by an Australian couple. With their help and the support of the UN, Deng Adut came to Australia as a refugee. Despite physical injuries and mental trauma he grabbed the chance to make a new life. He worked in a local service station and learnt English watching The Wiggles. He taught himself to read and started studying at TAFE. In 2005 he enrolled in a Bachelor of Law at Western Sydney University. He became the first person in his family to graduate from university. This is an inspiring story of a man who has overcome deadly adversity to become a lawyer and committed worker for the disenfranchised, helping refugees in Western Sydney. It is an important reminder of the power of compassion and the benefit to us all when we open our doors and our hearts to fleeing war, persecution and trauma.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld; Keith Thompson (Illustrator) It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet. Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men. Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered. With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

Dreaming the Enemy by David Metzenthen Johnny Shoebridge has just returned from fighting in the jungles of Vietnam. He no longer carries a weapon - only photos of the dead and a dread of the living. Pursued by a Viet Cong ghost-fighter called Khan, Johnny makes one last stand - knowing that if he cannot lay this spectre to rest, he will remain a prisoner of war for ever. Drawing on courage, loyalty and love, Johnny tries to find a way back from the nightmare of war to a sense of hope for the future.

Five Children on the Western Front by Kate Saunders Have you ever wondered what happened to the Five Children and It characters when the First World War began? Cyril is off to fight, Anthea is at art college, Robert is a Cambridge scholar and Jane is at high school. The Lamb is the grown up age of 11, and he has a little sister, Edith, in tow. The sand fairy has become a creature of stories ... until he suddenly reappears. The siblings are pleased to have something to take their minds off the war, but this time the Psammead is here for a reason, and his magic might have a more serious purpose. Before this last adventure ends, all will be changed, and the two younger children will have seen the Great War from every possible viewpoint - factory-workers, soldiers and sailors, nurses and the people left at home, and the war's impact will be felt right at the heart of their family.

The Invisible War by Ailsa Wild One Nurse. Trillions of microbes A deadly WWI battle... France, 1916. While treating a patient with dysentery, Sister Annie Barnaby encounters a strain of lethal bacteria. As the invaders journey deep into her gut, the resident microbes must fight to survive. Annie’s life hangs in the balance. Enter the phage, deadly predators, ready to wage war to protect their host. Created by a team of scientists, artists, educators, writers & historians, The Invisible War is a graphic novel like no other.

Eventual Poppy Day by Libby Hathorn It is 1915 and eighteen-year-old Maurice Roche is serving in the Great War. A century later, Maurice's great-great nephew, eighteen-year-old Oliver, is fighting his own war - one against himself. When Oliver is given Maurice's war diary, he has little interest in its contents - except for Maurice's sketches throughout, which intrigue Oliver, a talented artist himself. As he reads more of the diary, though, Oliver discovers that, despite living in different times, there are other similarities between them: doubts, heartbreak, loyalty, and finding the courage to face the darkest of times.

The Diary of a Anne Frank by Anne Frank Journal of a Jewish teenager describes the joys and torments of daily life and typical adolescent thoughts throughout two years spent in hiding with her family during the Nazi occupation of Holland.