Year 10 Readers' Cup Booklist: Year 10 Readers' Cup Booklist

Robert Langdon SERIES by Dan Brown Dan Brown's new novel, Inferno, features renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon and is set in the heart of Europe, where Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centred around one of history's most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces.

Jack Ryan SERIES by Tom Clancy Decades ago, as a young CIA analyst, President Jack Ryan Sr. was sent out to investigate the death of an operative; only to uncover the existence of a KGB assassin codenamed Zenith. He was never able to find the killer. In the present, a new strongman has emerged in the ever-chaotic Russian republic; the enigmatic President Valeri Volodon. But the foundations of his personal empire are built on a bloody secret from his past. And none who know of it have lived to tell. For he has set a plot in motion; a plot to return Russia to its former glory. But when a family friend of Ryan's is poisoned by a radioactive agent, the trail leads to Russia. And Jack Ryan Jr.;aided by his compatriots John Clark and the covert warriors of the secretive Campus; must delve into an international conflict thirty years in the making, and finish what his father started. With President Ryan fighting the political battle of his life, and his son fighting a silent war against a ruthless foe, global conflict becomes imminent;and the possibility of survival may soon be lost for all.

State of Fear by Michael Crichton In Paris a physicist dies after performing a laboratory experiment for a beautiful visitor. In the jungles of Malaysia a mysterious buyer purchases deadly technology built to his specifications. In Vancouver a small research submarine is leased for use in the waters off New Guinea. And in Tokyo an intelligence agent tries to understand what it all means. Thus begins Michael Crichton's exciting and provocative techno-thriller State of Fear. Only Michael Crichton's unique ability to blend science fact and pulse-pounding fiction could bring such disparate elements to a heart-stopping conclusion This is his most wide-ranging thriller. State of Fear takes the reader from the glaciers of Iceland to the volcanoes of Antarctica from the Arizona desert to the deadly jungles of the Solomon Islands from the streets of Paris to the beaches of Los Angeles. The novel races forwards taking the reader on a rollercoaster thrill ride all the while keeping the brain in high gear. Gripping and thought-provoking State of Fear is Michael Crichton at his very best.

Numa Files SERIES by Clive Cussler Kurt Austin returns in another spectacular action-packed thriller, from the master of adventure writing Clive Cussler.As head of the US National Underwater and Maritime Agency's Special Assignments Team, Kurt Austin is no stranger to danger - above or below the waves.

The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth It's 1963 and a young German reporter has been assigned the suicide of a holocaust survivor. The news story seems straightforward, this is a tragic insight into one man's suffering. But a long hidden secret is discovered in the pages of the dead man's diary. What follows is life-and-death hunt for a notorious former concentration camp-commander.

A Perfect Spy by John Le Carre Magnus Pym, ranking diplomat, has vanished, believed defected. The chase is on: for a missing husband, a devoted father, and a secret agent. Pym s life, it is revealed, is entirely made up of secrets. Dominated by a father who is also a confidence trickster on an epic scale, Pym has from the age of seventeen been controlled by two mentors. It is these two, racing each other and time itself, who are orchestrating the search to find the perfect spy ...

Hellfire by Chris Ryan On the Syria/Iraq border a British hostage is beheaded by IS terrorists. When the executioner breaks down he is led into a nearby tent where a masked figure is waiting for him. This mysterious person is treated with a mixture of respect and terror. They call him the Caliph. In Nigeria the British Ambassador and his young aide are kidnapped. A four-person SAS team is deployed to find him. The team includes Danny Black and Caitlin Wallace - an expert on West Africa. The team find devastation in Nigeria, and when they discover prisoners infected with the plague they realise they have uncovered a combined Boko Harem/IS plot to unleash a bio-terrorist attack upon the world. The team must stop the terrorists and identify the Caliph before the deadly disease is threatens those much closer to home.

Life of Pi: a novel by Yann Martel After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, one solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a 16 year old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orangutan, and a 450 pound Royal Bengal tiger. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary works of fiction in recent years.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson; David Oliver Relin "One man's campaign to build schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti-American reaches of Asia. In 1993 Greg Mortenson was an American mountain-climbing bum wandering emaciated and lost through Pakistan's Karakoram. After he was taken in and nursed back to health by the people of a Pakistani village, he promised to return one day and build them a school. From that rash, earnest promise grew one of the most incredible humanitarian campaigns of our time; Mortenson's one-man mission to counteract extremism by building schools, especially for girls, throughout the breeding ground of the Taliban. In a region where Americans are often feared and hated, he has survived kidnapping fatwas issued by enraged mullahs, death threats, and wrenching separations from his wife and children. However, his success speaks for itself. At last count, his Central Asia Institute had built fifty-five schools."--Publisher description.

Son of Heaven by David Wingrove The year is 2085, two decades after the great economic collapse that destroyed Western civilisation. With its power broken and its cities ruined, life in the West continues in scattered communities. In rural Dorset, Jake Reed lives with his 14-year-old son and memories of the great collapse. Back in 2043, Jake was a rich, young futures broker, immersed in the datascape of the world's financial markets. He saw what was coming - and who was behind it. Forewarned, he was one of the few to escape the fall. For 22 years he has lived in fear of the future, and finally it is coming - quite literally - across the plain towards him. Chinese airships are in the skies and a strange, glacial structure has begun to dominate the horizon. Jake finds himself forcibly incorporated into the ever-expanding 'World of Levels' a global city of some 34 billion souls, where social status is reflected by how far above the ground you live. Here, under the rule of the mighty Tsao Ch'un, a resurgent China is seeking to abolish the past and bring about world peace through rigidly enforced order. But a civil war looms, and Jake will find himself at the heart of the struggle for the future.

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2008 WINNER OF THE GALAXY BRITISH BOOK AWARDS 'AUTHOR OF THE YEAR' 2009 '[An] extraordinary and brilliant first novel... Adiga is a real writer - that is to say, someone who forges an original voice and vision.' Sunday Times

Sold by Patricia McCormick Lakshmi's family is desperately poor, but village life in the mountains of Nepal has its share of pleasures. When the monsoons wreck their crops yet again, Lakshmi's stepfather says she must leave home and take a job to support her family.

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts "It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the heart of it came to me in an instant, while I was chained to a wall and being tortured." So begins this epic, mesmerizing first novel by Gregory David Roberts, set in the underworld of contemporary Bombay.Shantaram is narrated by Lin, an escaped convict with a false passport who flees maximum security prison in Australia for the teeming streets of a city where he can disappear. Accompanied by his guide and faithful friend, Prabaker, the two enter Bombay's hidden society of beggars and gangsters, prostitutes and holy men, soldiers and actors, and Indians and exiles from other countries, who seek in this remarkable place what they cannot find elsewhere. As a hunted man without a home, family, or identity, Lin searches for love and meaning while running a clinic in one of the city's poorest slums, and serving his apprenticeship in the dark arts of the Bombay mafia. The search leads him to war, prison torture, murder, and a series of enigmatic and bloody betrayals. The keys to unlock the mysteries and intrigues that bind Lin are held by two people. The first is Khader Khan: mafia godfather, criminal-philosopher-saint, and mentor to Lin in theunderworld of the Golden City. The second is Karla: elusive, dangerous, and beautiful, whose passions are driven by secrets that torment her and yet give her a terrible power. Burning slums and five-star hotels, romantic love and prison agonies, criminal wars and Bollywood films, spiritual gurus and mujaheddin guerrillas---this huge novel has the world of human experience in its reach, and a passionate love for India at its heart. Based on the life of the author, it is by any measure the debut of an extraordinary voice in literature.

Cloudwish by Fiona Wood For Vân Uoc Phan, fantasies fall into two categories: nourishing, or pointless. Daydreaming about Billy Gardiner, for example? Pointless. It always left her feeling sick, as though she'd eaten too much sugar. Vân Uoc doesn't believe in fairies, zombies, vampires, Father Christmas - or magic wishes. She believes in keeping a low profile: real life will start when school finishes. But when she attracts the attention of Billy Gardiner, she finds herself in an unwelcome spotlight. Not even Jane Eyre can help her now. Wishes were not a thing. They were not. Correction. Wishes were a thing. Wishes that came true were sometimes a thing. Wishes that came true because of magic were not a thing! Were they?

Shame and the Captives by Tom Keneally Will keeping the Japanese, Korean and Italian POWs of the Second World War alive in Australia keep Australian POWs alive and well wherever they are? This is not the Western Front but a NSW farming community having to deal with 'the enemy' in a prisoner-of-war camp nearby. Many of the townspeople and soldiers have husbands, sons, brothers who are away at war, missing, imprisoned or perhaps dead. The moral quandary

The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis The Swimmer. The Rebel. The Nerd. All Ryan, Harley and Miles had in common was Isaac. They lived different lives, had different interests and kept different secrets. But they shared the same best friend. They were sidekicks. And now that Isaac's gone, what does that make them? Will Kostakis, award-winning author of The First Third, perfectly depicts the pain and pleasure of this teenage world, piecing together three points of view with intricate splendour.

A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz Steve Toltz's A Fraction of the Whole is a riotously funny explosion of a novel shortlisted for the man booker prize 2008. From his prison cell, Jasper Dean tells the unlikely story of his scheming father Martin, his crazy Uncle Terry and how the three of them upset - mostly unintentionally - an entire continent. Incorporating death, parenting (good and bad kinds), one labyrinth, first love, a handbook for criminals, a scheme to make everyone rich and an explosive suggestion box, Steve Toltz's A Fraction of the Whole is a hilarious, heartbreaking story of families and how to survive them.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas Told from the points of view of eight people who are present at the same barbeque. The slap and its consequences will force them all the question the way they live, their expectations, beliefs and desires.

Breath by Tim Winton "Breath is a beautiful, gripping, deeply moving novel about our need for excitement and to push ourselves to the limits; about the power of the sea; and how ordinary people live with tragedy."--Provided by publisher.

One Would Think The Deep by Claire Zorn It’s 1997 and seventeen-year-old Sam is mourning the sudden loss of his mum … Sam has always had things going on in his head that no one else understands, even his mum. And now she’s dead, it’s worse than ever. With nothing but his skateboard and a few belongings in a garbage bag, Sam goes to live with the strangers his mum cut ties with seven years ago: Aunty Lorraine and his cousins Shane and Minty. Despite the suspicion and hostility emanating from their fibro shack, Sam reverts to his childhood habit of following Minty around and is soon surfing with Minty to cut through the static fuzz in his head. But as the days slowly meld into one another, and ghosts from the past reappear, Sam has to make the ultimate decision … will he sink or will he swim.

My First Lesson by Compiled by Alice Pung Award-winning author Alice Pung has selected 25 diverse stories written by high school students inspired by her bestselling YA novel, Laurinda. The collection features an impressive range of genres by exciting new voices, exploring themes as varied as intergenerational friendship, cultural identity, bullying and heartbreak. From epiphanies on an African safari to trying to cope with the death of a parent, from a prank gone wrong to finding love in unexpected places, the stories in My First Lesson are vivid and imaginative, funny and surprising, poetic and moving.

The Irregulars by Jennet Conant The author of two top secret stories from the Second World War turns her gaze on the fascinating story of the cream of the British spies in Washington DC who were spying on the United States. This book reveals how author Roald Dahl was a member of Churchill's infamous dirty tricks squad.

The Betrayal by Y. A. Erskine Tasmania is in the grip of one of the bleakest winters on record and it's particularly icy at the Hobart Police Station. Of the many golden rules in policing, one is especially sacred: what happens at work stays at work. So when Lucy Howard makes an allegation of sexual assault against a respected colleague, the rule is well and truly broken.

Suspect by Robert Crais Struggling to reclaim his career after the devastating murder of his partner eight months earlier, LAPD cop Scott James is teamed with a traumatized military canine named Maggie who assists Scott in an effort to track down his late partner's killer.

The Godfather by Mario Puzo Tryant, blackmailer, racketeer, murder, his influence reaches every level of American society. This book tells an epic story of organised crime in the 1940s. It is also the intimate story of the Corleone family, at once drawn together and ripped apart at the core of the American Mafia.

Dead Point by Peter Temple Jack Irish's mind is not fully on the job he's being paid to do: find Robbie Colburne, occasional barman. But when he does get serious, he finds that the freelance drink dispenser is of great interest to some powerful people, people with very bad habits and a distinct lack of respect for the criminal justice system.

If on a Winter's Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino Italo Calvino's masterpiece combines a love story and a detective story into an exhilarating allegory of reading, in which the reader of the book becomes the book's central character. Based on a witty analogy between the reader's desire to finish the story and the lover's desire to consummate his or her passion, If On A Winter's Night A Traveller is the tale of two bemused readers whose attempts to reach the end of the same book, If On A Winter's Night A Traveller by Italo Calvino, of course, are constantly and comically frustrated. In between chasing missing chapters of the book, the hapless readers tangle with an international conspiracy, a rogue translator, an elusive novelist, a disintegrating publishing house, and several oppressive governments. The result is a literary labyrinth of storylines that interrupt one another - an Arabian Nights of the postmodern age.

The Outsider by Albert Camus Meursault is different. He will not lie. He will not pretend. He is true to himself. So when his mother dies and he is unmoved, he refuses to do the proper thing and grieve. Returning to Algiers after the funeral, he carries on life as usual until he becomes involved in a violent murder.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway First published in 1952 - The classic story of an old man, a young boy and a great fish.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Far in the future, the World Controllers have created the ideal society. Through clever use of genetic engineering, brainwashing and recreational sex and drugs, all its members are happy consumers. Bernard Marx seems alone harbouring an ill-defined longing to break free. A visit to one of the few remaining Savage Reservations, where the old, imperfect life still continues, may be the cure for his distress... Huxley's ingenious fantasy of the future sheds a blazing light on the present and is considered to be his most enduring masterpiece.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Set against the sweeping panoply of Napoleon's invasion of Russia, War and Peace- presented here in the first new English translation in forty years-is often considered the greatest novel ever written. At its center are Pierre Bezukhov, searching for meaning in his life; cynical Prince Andrei, ennobled by wartime suffering; and Natasha Rostov, whose impulsiveness threatens to destroy her happiness. As Tolstoy follows the changing fortunes of his characters, he crafts a view of humanity that is both epic and intimate and that continues to define fiction at its most resplendent.

Pure Trilogy SERIES by Julianna Baggott In a post-apocalyptic world, Pressia, a sixteen-year-old survivor with a doll's head fused onto her left hand meets Partridge, a "Pure" dome-dweller who is searching for his mother, sure that she has survived the cataclysm.

Pulse SERIES by Patrick Carman Fans of action-packed sci-fi thrillers such as I Am Number Four and The Maze Runner will love bestselling author Patrick Carman's Pulse, with its epic action scenes and memorable love story. In the year 2051, Faith Daniels discovers that she can move objects with her mind. This telekinetic ability is called a "pulse," and her mysterious classmate, Dylan Gilmore, has the talent, too. In riveting action scenes, Faith demonstrates her ability to use her pulse against a group of telekinesis masters who are so powerful they can flatten their enemies by uprooting streetlights and throwing boulders. But even with her unusual talent, the mind—and the heart – can be difficult to control. If Faith wants to join forces with Dylan and save the world, she'll have to harness the power of both.

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton A calling. An honour. A lie. Quin has dedicated her life to becoming a Seeker. All these years she has been training to fight to protect the weak and the wronged. Or so she thinks. The night she takes her Oath, Quin finally learns the terrible truth about her mission: about what it really means to be a sworn Seeker. From her family to the boy she loves, nothing is as she thought it was. And now it's too late to walk away.

Interworld SERIES by Neil Gaiman; Michael Reaves Joey Harker isn't a hero. In fact, he's the kind of guy who gets lost in his own house. But one day, Joey gets really lost. He walks straight out of his world and into another dimension. Joey's walk between worlds makes him prey to armies of magic and science, both determined to harness Joey's power to travel between the dimensions. The only thing standing in their way is Joey - or, more precisely, an army of Joeys, all from different dimensions and all determined to save the worlds.

Tales of Otori SERIES by Lian Hearn Enter the feudal world of the Otori - filled with magic, treachery and intrigue - inspired by medieval Japan and created by acclaimed Australian author, Lian Hearn.

Wool SERIES by Hugh Howey In a ruined and hostile landscape, in a future few have been unlucky enough to survive, a community exists in a giant underground silo. Inside, men and women live an enclosed life full of rules and regulations, of secrets and lies. To live, you must follow the rules. But some don't.

Throne of Glass SERIES by Sarah J. Maas In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien. The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

Lightbringer SERIES by Brent Weeks When Gavin Guile--high priest and emperor, the most powerful man in the world known to all as the Prism--discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he's willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.

The Yearbook Committee by Sarah Ayoub Five teenagers. Five lives. One final year. The school captain: Ryan has it all … or at least he did, until an accident snatched his dreams away. How will he rebuild his life and what does the future hold for him now? The newcomer: Charlie’s just moved interstate and she’s determined not to fit in. She’s just biding her time until Year 12 is over and she can head back to her real life and her real friends … The loner: At school, nobody really notices Matty. But at home, Matty is everything. He’s been single-handedly holding things together since his mum’s breakdown, and he’s never felt so alone. The popular girl: Well, the popular girl’s best friend … cool by association. Tammi’s always bowed to peer pressure, but when the expectations become too much to handle, will she finally stand up for herself? The politician’s daughter: Gillian’s dad is one of the most recognisable people in the state and she’s learning the hard way that life in the spotlight comes at a very heavy price. Five unlikely teammates thrust together against their will. Can they find a way to make their final year a memorable one or will their differences tear their world apart?

The Incredible Here and Now by Felicity Castagna Michael's older brother dies at the beginning of the summer he turns 15, but as its title suggests The Incredible Here and Now is a tale of wonder, not of tragedy. Presented as a series of vignettes, in the tradition of Sandra Cisneros Young Adult classic The House on Mango Street, it tells of Michael's coming of age in a year which brings him grief and romance; and of the place he lives in Western Sydney where those who don't know any better drive through the neighbourhood and lock their car doors, and those who do, flourish in its mix of cultures. Through his perceptions, the reader becomes familiar with Michael's community and its surroundings, the unsettled life of his family, the girl he meets at the local pool, the friends that gather in the McDonalds parking lot at night, the white Pontiac Trans Am that lights up his life like a magical talisman.

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley This is a love story. It's the story of Howling Books, where readers write letters to strangers, to lovers, to poets. It's the story of Henry Jones and Rachel Sweetie. They were best friends once, before Rachel moved to the sea. Now, she's back, working at the bookstore, grieving for her brother Cal and looking for the future in the books people love, and the words they leave behind.

When We Collided by Emery Lord Seventeen year old Jonah Daniels has lived in Verona Cove, California, his whole life, and only one thing has ever changed: his father used to be alive, and now he's not. Now Jonah must numbly take care of his family as they reel from their tragedy. Cue next change: Vivi Alexander, new girl in town. Vivi is in love with life. A gorgeous and unfiltered hurricane of thoughts and feelings. She seems like she's from another planet as she transforms Jonah's family and changes his life. But there are always consequences when worlds collide ...A fierce and beautiful love story with a difference, When We Collided will thrill fans of All the Bright Places and I'll Give You the Sun.

The Stars at Oktober Bend by Glenda Millard A powerful, captivating story about Alice, who is reaching out to express herself through her beautiful-broken words, and Manny who is running to escape his past. When they meet they find the tender beginnings of love and healing. Alice is fifteen, with hair as red as fire and skin as pale as bone, but something inside her is broken. She has acquired brain injury, the result of an assault, and her words come out slow and slurred. But when she writes, heartwords fly from her pen. She writes poems to express the words she can't say and leaves them in unexpected places around the town. Manny was once a child soldier. He is sixteen and has lost all his family. He appears to be adapting to his new life in this country, where there is comfort and safety, but at night he runs, barefoot, to escape the memory of his past. When he first sees Alice, she is sitting on the rusty roof of her river-house, looking like a carving on an old-fashioned ship sailing through the stars.

The Truth by Michael Palin Keith Mabbut is at a crossroads in his life. When he is offered the opportunity of a lifetime - to pen the biography of the elusive Hamish Melville, a highly influential activist and humanitarian - he seizes the chance to write something meaningful. His search to find out the real story behind the legend takes Mabbut to the lush landscapes and environmental hotspots of India. The more he discovers about Melville, the more he admires him - and the more he connects with an idealist who wanted to make a difference. But is his quarry really who he claims to be? As Keith discovers, the truth can be whatever we make it. In this wonderful, heartwarming novel, Michael Palin turns his considerable skills to fiction in the story of an ordinary man on an extraordinary adventure.

Six by Karen Tayleur Six teenagers. One car. One after-party. Six voices, six points of view. But only one outcome.

Everything is Changed by Nova Weetman Lifelong friends Jake and Alex are torn apart when they make a terrible split-second decision that ends in tragedy. As guilt closes in on Jake, he becomes increasingly determined to confess to the police. But Alex just wants to move on with life. He's got a cool new girlfriend, fancy new house and posh new school, and doesn't want his future to be ruined by a mistake in his past. Told backwards in alternating viewpoints, this gritty novel takes us through the wreckage of a broken friendship, back to the moment when everything changed.

One Would Think the Deep by Claire Zorn It’s 1997 and seventeen-year-old Sam is mourning the sudden loss of his mum … Sam has always had things going on in his head that no one else understands, even his mum. And now she’s dead, it’s worse than ever. With nothing but his skateboard and a few belongings in a garbage bag, Sam goes to live with the strangers his mum cut ties with seven years ago: Aunty Lorraine and his cousins Shane and Minty. Despite the suspicion and hostility emanating from their fibro shack, Sam reverts to his childhood habit of following Minty around and is soon surfing with Minty to cut through the static fuzz in his head. But as the days slowly meld into one another, and ghosts from the past reappear, Sam has to make the ultimate decision … will he sink or will he swim.

The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher Jim Butcher, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Dresden Files and the Codex Alera novels, conjures up a new series set in a fantastic world of noble families, steam-powered technology, and magic-wielding warriors... Since time immemorial, the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses have ruled for generations, developing scientific marvels, fostering trade alliances, and building fleets of airships to keep the peace. Captain Grimm commands the merchant ship, Predator. Fiercely loyal to Spire Albion, he has taken their side in the cold war with Spire Aurora, disrupting the enemy's shipping lines by attacking their cargo vessels. But when the Predator is severely damaged in combat, leaving captain and crew grounded, Grimm is offered a proposition from the Spirearch of Albion--to join a team of agents on a vital mission in exchange for fully restoring Predator to its fighting glory. And even as Grimm undertakes this dangerous task, he will learn that the conflict between the Spires is merely a premonition of things to come. Humanity's ancient enemy, silent for more than ten thousand years, has begun to stir once more. And death will follow in its wake...

The Passage Trilogy SERIES by Justin Cronin Amy Harper Bellafonte is six years old and her mother thinks she's the most important person in the whole world. She is. Anthony Carter doesn't think he could ever be in a worse place than Death Row. He's wrong. FBI agent Brad Wolgast thinks something beyond imagination is coming. It is. Unaware of each other's existence but bound together in ways none of them could have imagined, they are about to embark on a journey. An epic journey that will take them through a world transformed by man's darkest dreams, to the very heart of what it means to be human. And beyond. Because something is coming. A tidal wave of darkness ready to engulf the world. And Amy is the only person who can stop it.

The Shining by Stephen King Danny is only five years old but in the words of old Mr Hallorann he is a 'shiner', aglow with psychic voltage. When his father becomes caretaker of the Overlook Hotel his visions grow frighteningly out of control.

The Walking Dead SERIES by Robert Kirkman he novel is a spin-off of The Walking Dead comic book series and explores the back-story of one of the series' most infamous characters, The Governor. Rise of the Governor is the first in a trilogy of novels.

Party Games by R.L. Stine Despite her friend's warning, Rachel is excited to attend Brendan Fear's birthday party at his family's estate on mysterious Fear Island, but soon someone introduces a game of murder and all of the guests are in danger.

99 Coffins by David Wellington Laura Caxton vowed never to face them again. The horror of what the vampires did is too close, the wounds too fresh. But when Jameson Arkeley, broken and barely recognizable, comes to her with an unfathomable, unholy discovery, her resolve crumbles. Arkeley leads Caxton to a tomb in Gettysburg recently excavated by a local archaeology professor. While the town, with its legendary role in the Civil War’s worst battle, is no stranger to cemeteries, this one is remarkably, eerily different. In it lie 100 coffins—99 of them occupied by vampires, who, luckily, are missing their hearts. But one of the coffins is empty and smashed to pieces. Who is the missing vampire? Does he have access to the 99 hearts that, if placed back in the bodies of their owners, could reanimate an entire bloodthirsty army? How did the vampires end up there, undisturbed and undiscovered for 150 years? The answer lies in Civil War documents that contain sinister secrets about the newly found coffins—secrets that Laura Caxton is about to uncover as she is thrown into a deadly, gruesome mission of saving an entire town from a mass invasion of the undead. . . .

Demons at Dusk by Peter Stewart The story behind "Demons at Dusk" is true. It is a story of love and courage, betrayal and tragedy, mystery and deceit and the strength of the human spirit. Demons at Dusk is an extremely powerful account of one of the most tragic and remarkable chapters of Australia's history.

Freedom Ride by Sue Lawson Robbie has a hard life, the bulk of which is spent doing chores for his Gran. Robbie knows bad things happen in his small Australian hometown of Walgaree. He knows the Aborigines have always been treated poorly in a system that represents an unwritten apartheid. But even though it's wrong what can he do about it? The majority of his friends and family seem to think it's the natural order of things. When the University of Sydney Freedom riders turn up in town in 1965 demanding equality for all, Robbie has some decisions to make. A novel based on true events.

The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville In 1787 Lieutenant Thomas Rooke sets sail from Portsmouth with the First Fleet and its cargo of convicts, destined for New South Wales. As a young officer and a man of science, the shy and quiet Rooke is full of anticipation about the natural wonders he might discover in this strange land on the other side of the world. After the fleet arrives in Port Jackson, Rooke sets up camp on a rocky and isolated point, and starts his work of astronomy and navigation. It's not too long before some of the Aboriginal people who live around the harbour pay him a visit. One of them, a girl named Tarunga, starts to teach him her own language. But her lessons and their friendship are interrupted when Rooke is given an order that will change his life forever. Inspired by the 1790 notebooks of William Dawes in which he recorded his conversations with a young Gadigal woman, The Lieutenant is a story about a man discovering his true self in extraordinary circumstances.

Season of Hate by Michael Costello Discrimination towards others is sometimes based on as little as difference of appearance or culture and fuelled by intolerance. When confronted by it, do we turn our backs and walk away, or take a stand beside the oppressed? 1985 and Pat the narrator returns to his small wheat town to settle his father's estate. He recalls the events when he first moved there from Sydney as an eight year old in 1955 with twin brother Doug and his GP father. 'Season of hate' is the moving story of the friendship between the boys and Johnny, the mute Aboriginal teenager. In those first two years in their seemingly ideal world, the boys are exposed to the best and worst of human nature as they become aware of the undercurrents of discrimination and racial bigotry that erupt into violence. In particular, that one night where Pat's own life is challenged. The night where one wanton act places the town's very livelihood in jeopardy.

That Deadman Dance by Kim Scott Explores the early contact between the Aboriginal Noongar people and the first European settlers. A young Noongar man named Bobby Wabalanginy who is clever, resourceful and eager to please, befriends the new arrivals. But slowly things begin to change. Not everyone is happy with how the colony is developing.

Big Thursday by Anne Brooksbank A moving family drama about change and loss, and having the courage and strength to surf the big breaks. By the acclaimed author of Father's Dayand Mother's Day. His dad had often spoken of these rare and special days: the days when some change far out in the sea brought great waves rearing up and crashing in a tumult of white water against the land. The last one was called Big Monday. Nat loves the surf - a love he shares with his dad, a former surfing champion. But his dad's business has collapsed, meaning that his family will lose the house near the lake and surf beach. Nat finds that life is unpredictable and, like the waves, you have to ride what comes as best you can. Will Nat be able to hold his family together? He doesn't have much time. Will another huge surf on Big Thursdaymake or break him?

Casey Stoner: pushing the limits by Casey Stoner For the first time ever, two-time World MotoGP champion Casey Stoner will open up and tell his story.

My Private Pectus by Shane Thamm "There's something different about my body. It's not something I'm proud of either, not something I show anyone. It's like the missing piece of a jigsaw you can't take your eyes off. If I were to take off my shirt you wouldn't see my face, my freckles or ratty hair. You'd just suck your cheeks in and stare. All you'd see is the depression in the middle of my chest."A realistic story about cars, footy, a love interest, and the commonly forgotten ingredient: a young man's emotions.

Stand Off by Andrew Smith Ryan Dean finds himself as the rugby team's new captain and stand-off - the position once played by his friend, Joey. Somehow he's inherited as his room-mate Sam Abernathy, a twelve-year-old cooking whiz with extreme claustrophobia and a crush on Annie Altman, Ryan Dean's girlfriend. And Ryan Dean has his own problems too.

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.

An Act of Love by Alan Gibbons Crackling with tension, a timely real-life thriller which explores the consequences of the war on terror on two young lives, by prize-winning author, Alan Gibbons.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin Germania, 1956. Over ten years since the Nazis won the war. 18-year-old Yael is part of the resistance, and she has just one mission: to kill Hitler. Experimented on during her time at Auschwitz, Yael has the unique ability to change her appearance at will. The only part of her which always remains are the five tattooed wolves on her arm; one for each of the people she's lost. Using her abilities, she must transform into Adele Wolfe, Germany's most famous female rider and winner of the legendary Axis Tour; an epic long distance motorcycle race from Berlin to Tokyo, where only the strongest (and wiliest) riders survive. If she can win this, she will be able to get close enough to kill the Fuhrer and change history forever.

Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally The acclaimed bestselling classic of Holocaust literature, winner of the Booker Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Award for Fiction, and the inspiration for the classic film—“a masterful account of the growth of the human soul” (Los Angeles Times Book Review). A stunning novel based on the true story of how German war profiteer and factory director Oskar Schindler came to save more Jews from the gas chambers than any other single person during World War II. In this milestone of Holocaust literature, Thomas Keneally, author of Daughter of Mars, uses the actual testimony of the Schindlerjuden—Schindler’s Jews—to brilliantly portray the courage and cunning of a good man in the midst of unspeakable evil.

Black Rock White City by A.S. Patric Black Rock White City is a novel about the damages of war, the limits of choice, and the hope of love. During a hot Melbourne summer Jovan’s cleaning work at a bayside hospital is disrupted by acts of graffiti and violence becoming increasingly malevolent. For Jovan the mysterious words that must be cleaned away dislodge the poetry of the past. He and his wife Suzana were forced to flee Sarajevo and the death of their children. Intensely human, yet majestic in its moral vision, Black Rock White City is an essential story of Australia’s suburbs now, of displacement and immediate threat, and the unexpected responses of two refugees as they try to reclaim their dreams. It is a breathtaking roar of energy that explores the immigrant experience with ferocity, beauty and humour.

After Darkness by Christine Piper It is early 1942 and Australia is in the midst of war. While working at a Japanese hospital in the pearling port of Broome, Dr Ibaraki is arrested as an enemy alien and sent to Loveday internment camp in a remote corner of South Australia. There, he learns to live among a group of men who are divided by culture and allegiance. As tensions at the isolated camp escalate, the doctor's long-held beliefs are thrown into question and he is forced to confront his dark past: the promise he made in Japan and its devastating consequences.

August 1914 by Aleksandr Solzenitsyn August 1914 is a Russian novel by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn about the defeat of the Imperial Russian Army at the Battle of Tannenberg in East Prussia. The novel was completed in 1970, first published in 1971, with an English translation the following year.[1] The novel is an unusual blend of fiction narrative and historiography, and has given rise to extensive and often bitter controversy, both from the literary as well as from the historical point of view.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein Oct. 11th, 1943-A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun. When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution. As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy? A Michael L. Printz Award Honor book that was called "a fiendishly-plotted mind game of a novel" in The New York Times, Code Name Verity is a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other.